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Be Honest in All ThingsThe Watchtower—1986 | November 15
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In the United States, The Indianapolis Star wrote about a Witness couple who found $4,000 and returned it to the owner. The paper stated that the couple “had no doubts about what they had to do.” Why not? They said: “We couldn’t keep it. We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
14 When a Witness in Missouri found $9,500 and turned it in to the police, a newspaper quoted an officer as stating: “It is extremely rare for someone to find that kind of money and turn it in. We’ve never had anyone that I can recall do that before. It really was amazing.” The article mentioned that the Witness “never entertained the thought of keeping the money.” The officer in charge said that the Witness “had restored his faith that there were still some honest people among mankind.” The Witness responded: “We as a people pride ourselves in being honest in all respects.”
15, 16. What experiences show that honesty even in small things is noticed by others?
15 It is not just in big things that we must be honest. Honesty is necessary in small things too. (Luke 16:10) For example, when a Witness family stayed at a Florida hotel, their son inadvertently took a pillowcase, mistaking it for his undershirt. The family mailed it back to the hotel, and the hotel manager wrote: “We would like to thank you very much for your honesty. While sending back our pillowcase was probably your usual everyday deed in being yourself, to us it was something to be commended.” Similarly, when a Witness couple accidentally took a writing pen from a Georgia hotel and then returned it, the manager wrote: “Let me thank you for taking the time to return the writing pen that you accidentally packed with your belongings. It is refreshing to receive notes such as the one you sent from such honest and caring people!”
16 A Witness boy in the fifth grade was playing baseball at school. He was involved in a play that was close, but he knew he was “out.” His teammates tried to say he was “safe.” But then a member of the opposing team said that there was one sure way to determine the truth. He said: “Ask him if he is out or not. He’s a Witness, and Witnesses don’t lie.” The boy’s good conduct in everyday matters had been noticed by the others. Truly, by living according to God’s standards, even “out of the mouth of babes” praise can come to Jehovah.—Matthew 21:16.
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Be Honest in All ThingsThe Watchtower—1986 | November 15
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For example, when a Witness family stayed at a Florida hotel, their son inadvertently took a pillowcase, mistaking it for his undershirt. The family mailed it back to the hotel, and the hotel manager wrote: “We would like to thank you very much for your honesty. While sending back our pillowcase was probably your usual everyday deed in being yourself, to us it was something to be commended.” Similarly, when a Witness couple accidentally took a writing pen from a Georgia hotel and then returned it, the manager wrote: “Let me thank you for taking the time to return the writing pen that you accidentally packed with your belongings. It is refreshing to receive notes such as the one you sent from such honest and caring people!”
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Be Honest in All ThingsThe Watchtower—1986 | November 15
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18 In a letter written to the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New York, a woman who is not a Witness said that she wanted to share an incident that happened to her daughter in school. Her daughter had an expensive horse’s bridle stolen from her one day. Two years later, the daughter received a letter that said: “Dear Lili, Here is your bridle that was stolen from you a couple of years ago. It was me who took it, but now I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and my new conscience will not let me keep it any longer. I am truly sorry. Please forgive me.” Yes, those who wish to serve Jehovah must cultivate “an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.”—Hebrews 13:18.
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