“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:5-7 (ESV)
There are many situations that can arise in business or in our personal life where we are tempted to compromise our values and convictions, perhaps to win a contract, get a job, win a promotion, or be popular with our peers. Many times, these temptations can be very subtle and even very appealing. To keep from falling into the trap of compromise you are going to need courage and strength. Webster defines courage as “Strength to resist opposition, danger or hardship.” Peter Drucker, a management consultant and writer said this, “Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” And it was Aristotle who said, “You will never do anything in the world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” And it was Billy Graham who said, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” Courage is a matter of the will, not feelings. You determine that you will choose to do the right thing even though your feelings may be telling you to do just the opposite, to blend into the culture and not rock the boat. Proverbs 16:2 (NASB) says, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but Lord weighs the motives.” And lastly Proverbs 16:8 (NASB) says, “Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.”
Let’s pray: Father God, forgive me where I have allowed society to dictate what is right and have not stood for your values. Help me to be courageous and strong and mighty both in my words and my actions. Help me to not give up and compromise my values but to stand up and fight for what is right. Thank you, Father God, that you are with me and you will never leave me nor forsake me in Jesus Name, amen.