From Enjoying the Closeness of God by Roger Palms

I know two men who work for a nonprofit organization. Both travel on

expense accounts. One lives as a friend of God; the other does not.

Circumstances are the same for both, but their responses to those

circumstances are opposite. This is how the difference shows:

“Go ahead and order the steak.”

“But I don’t eat like this at home; I can’t afford it.”

“You’re not at home; it’s going on your expense account.”

“No.”

“You work hard; you’ve earned it.”

“I’m paid to work hard. I am not paid to exploit.”

When those two men started their work, both had strong convictions

about the high calling of their vocations. They felt a sense of mission in

a worthwhile organization, one that helped people in need. They kept

costs down so that the money could be used as the donors expected it to

be used. But then they began to notice that others in their group

weren’t so fussy. After a while it became easier for one of those men to

change from a high view of commitment to the rationalization, “You

won’t be appreciated any more if you don’t take.” Even worse, he gave in

to the charge, “You make the rest of us look bad when we turn in our

expenses.”

…But the other man won’t bend…

He just goes on, one day at a time, trying to do what is expected of

him by God. And usually that’s all we have to go on as we try to be a

friend of God. What others say cannot be the measure of what is ethical,

moral, or right, even if it is legal. The view of the majority is not

necessarily the view of God.