Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
(Revelation 2.10 NRSV)
William Hinson tells about a breakfast he had with a man who had a very prosperous business. The businessman recently had become a Christian. It did not take him long to discover how costly this decision would be. He told his pastor of a very real dilemma he was now facing. "I have been engaged in price-fixing with some of my supposed competitors," he said. He went on to tell his pastor about rigging bids and how he and his friends profited from this scheme. "We have been putting our competitors out of business by keeping them from getting the big jobs," the businessman confessed.

"Now that I am a Christian," he said, "I cannot do that anymore, and I have told them I can't do it. They say that if I squeal, they will get the law on me because they have proof of my past involvement. They tell me that if I drop out, they will put me out of business, too." It was a real dilemma for the man. What should he do, change his business practices and risk going out of business or continue doing what he knows is wrong?

This man was convinced that his business practices went against Christian principles. He no longer went along with his friends' scheme and they were true to their word--they put him out of business. He eventually went broke. (3) Tough decision! What would you have done? Take up a cross or work out a compromise? Be satisfied with being a Christian only by name or a true disciple of the master?

Dear God, forgive me, as I set my sights on being a true disciple. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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