THE INCONVENIENCE OF TRUTH

I learned a leadership lesson years ago from Ferdie Cabiling.

He told it through a story.

“I was about to meet a man who was rich and powerful.  He came to church with his family.  However, our meeting wasn’t just for fellowship.  It was counseling  wherein I needed to say certain things – truth coupled with love, nevertheless, serious and poignant truth.

I got to the restaurant early, gave my credit card to the waiter, giving stringent instructions that I was to pay for the bill.

Why did I do that?  The man I am about to meet with is used to paying for all the bills whenever he would meet with people.  I wanted to have the freedom to be straightforward and pointblank if I needed to not feeling the need to walk on eggs.

And straightforward I was.

Thereafter, I prayed for him, signed the bill (to his surprise) and left our meeting.”

This I heard years ago and stuck with me for the longest time.

Daniel was faced with a similar scenario.

King Belshazzar had a dream… handwriting on the wall that none of the magicians and astrologers could interpret.

The queen remembered Daniel, that he was one in the time of King Nebuchadnezzar that could interpret the most difficult of dreams.

The King called for Daniel, offered him the purple robe, gold chain around his neck, and position to be the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel’s response?

“You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.  Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.”

After which, Daniel told the plain simple truth that the writing meant that the King was going to be judged for all he had done and that time was short.  No qualms, no hesitations, reluctance.

As His people, God has called to tell the truth, represent truth and live truth without equivocation nor ambivalence.  Because HE is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, we are to live it, share it and speak it when necessary.  That probably would be every single day…