Honest and integrity

A couple of weeks ago, I was in Glad Sound One Utama to pay up for an item which I thought was free. As I handed up the money to the cashier, she was surprised of why I gave her money when I did not purchase anything from her. As I explained to her the reason why, she gladly accept it and thanked me. My response to her was this: "It was because I am a Christian." And a thought came into my mind.
A Christian? Hmm.... What does that mean?? Well for me being a Christian is pretty hard. Everybody knows this. Some may and some may not. But I do believe this as being a Christian, that as a Christian, we live to glorify God. God is a good God. So being His ppl, we also ought to be good. I mean living in a mentality of wanting to please God. A lot of time we choose the way we want to do thing and tell God to bless us. Do you realise the word "tell" was hightlighted? We always do things and assume God is like this and like that. One good example would be this.
There are some ppl that I know once told me this. "Lik Ee, study hard so that you can earn big money. Then when you earn big money lotsa girl will fall for you." The sentence were told to me by Christian friends. So here I got a question to ask you all here. Which part of the word spoken here talks about God? I couldn't find any. In fact I find that the sentences they use is so worldly. I mean of course it is good to do well in our studies and earn big money. God would never curse us if we want to excel in whatever things that we do but for me, eventually the sentence above had became a worldly sentence to tell ppl that if we do not do well in our studies and earn big money, we would not have a successful life. I mean come on la.. Isn't it wrong to say it that way? I mean we are looking at money as a mean of idol. Without money we would not be getting a girlfriend or getting a comfortable life. The very reason why I mention this example is because I find it pretty disturbing to me when ppl always tell me do well so that I can get a wife. I always thought isn't it right that God is the centre of us when we pray for a life partner? If we were to focus on earn big and then girls would run after us it would be a total screw-up life after all. I mean if girls were to run after us because we are rich, what would happen if we were to gone bankrupt one day? Would that beloved wife or husband of us (as a lot of ppl thought it will) be loyal to us anymore? I find it very disturbing because the era of when Christian brothers or sisters asked us to pray when it comes to finding life partner had been slowly diminishing.
Now it has always been if you do not do well in studies or if you do not well in your business and become rich, it would be hard for the respective person to get his or her life partner. Or perhaps some other success. Yesterday a friend of mine told me a story of which I myself find it very disturbing besides him (as he is the victim). A full time worker in his church asked him concerning his friend's relationship with another girl. Let's called this full time worker - A, my friend - B, B's friend - C and the girl - D. A were asking B bout C's life and C's relation to D as both C and D are very close. A thought C and D are lovers or at least it seems to him that both of them are into potential relationship. B did not know what is going on or perhaps do not want to tell A, that's according to B la. I can't remember. Instead of giving A any answer, B asked about his potential relation with D. Perhaps A would find them matching too, B thought. Instead A told B that B would never have any chances with D because D is educated but B is not. B's education level is just until SPM. After that he stopped his study and went straight into working life. Imagine this. A being a full time church worker without even thinking and being considerate saying these thing to a person who had always lived a poor and condemning life. I find it very disturbing. But thank God for one thing la. B is not badly hurt by the comment given but deep down inside I would not know.
What I am trying to say is this. A lot of time whatever we do and think is depend on what we believe is right and wrong and do we actually put God into the picture? Perhaps we do but are we wise enough to discern it in the right place and right time? Perhaps we are but there still be a tendency within us that makes us think we are right in our walk with God and I do notice a lot of time, we included our own extra luggage into our walk with God. This own luggage is worldly view. I mean how often are we, being a Christian would actually give up everything and giving it all to God. For one thing, I believe I had not really given up everything to God yet. But I am learning to give to Him. A lot of time I do believe that as much as we are Christians by name, are we Christians by our faith and walk? I do not think so at all. We may say we are not perfect but as imperfect as we are, is that a good excuse for us not to change? Nope. Not at all. I believe that a lot of ppl had heard this word from me: "We are imperfect ma. So what?" Do you know that because of that I actually learn to change. All of us need to change especially in our walk with the Lord. I always believe that our walk with the Lord is a lot about integrity and being honest to Him and to ppl surrounding us. I mean that is what is important in life. We need to show to the world that we are Christian. We do not just say we are Christian but no action. It is so hypocrite. I learnt not to be hypocrite as much as I felt that I am a lot like that.
So when it comes to first paragraph story above, I always expect and hope that I do not need to see a surprise look when it comes to Christians being honest because that is what we ought to be in the first place and not allowing non-believers to shame our Lord Jesus Christ in being honest. Otherwise it would be Christian by name and not by faith and walk. Let us not to be dead Christian but a live Christian.. =)
God bless...