Stumbling

The business community was shocked earlier this year when the FBI announced that it had uncovered $215 million in missing customer funds from a major investment firm. Its leader had been arrested. Even more shocking: The man had attempted to commit suicide.

To many, this man had been a symbol of integrity. For more than 30 years, thousands trusted him and his company with their life savings. Yet, emerging details revealed that he had been committing serious crimes for almost 20 years.

His explanation? Feeling hounded by “mean spirited” regulators, he felt forced to cheat. Then he kept justifying his actions. All the while, he was digging himself deeper into a pit of lies and deception. In his suicide note, he admitted spending much of the embezzled money to pay fines and fees and to fund a new corporate headquarters.

It can be easy to condemn men like this. But the Bible reminds us that “everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT). In fact, in many ways, any one of us could have been in his place.

The sins of some people receive this kind of spotlight. However, while most of us are spared this embarrassment, all of us are guilty before God. Before Him, sin is sin. Misusing millions of dollars is a sin. But so is lying, gossiping, or cheating, and all of us can find ourselves justifying and developing excuses for our actions.

Today, ask God to help you be clean in His sight. Don’t try to hide from Him or justify yourself. Let Him probe every part of your life and convict you of sins, big or small.

Repent of any sin He reveals to you, and ask Him to show you how to change. And as you have received God’s mercy, remember to be merciful toward others.