forced

An investment counselor went out on her own. She was shrewd and

diligent, so business kept coming in, and pretty soon she realized she

needed an in-house counsel, so she began interviewing young lawyers.

"As I'm sure you can understand," she started off with one of the first

applicants, "in a business like this, our personal integrity must be beyond

question." She leaned forward. "Mr. Peterson, are you an *honest* lawyer?"

"Honest?" replied the job prospect. "Let me tell you something about

honesty. Why, I'm so honest that my father lent me fifteen thousand dollars

for my education and I paid back every penny the minute I tried my very

first case."

"Impressive..... And what sort of case was that?"

The lawyer squirmed in his seat and admitted, "He sued me for the

money."

Sometimes we do something good because it's the right thing to do. And

sometimes we do the right thing simply because we have no choice. The

difference will manifest itself in our lives at some point, though, when we

do have a choice.

I see it happen all the time with college students. For years, they

attended church with Mom and Dad. But as soon as they are on their own,

making their own decisions, it becomes evident whether they attended all

those years because it was the right thing to do or because they were forced

to go.

What is your motivation? May we all seek to have the attitude of

David:

"I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure....I love Your

law.....My soul keeps your testimonies and I love them exceedingly.....Let

Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your

salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight." (Psa. 119:162,163b,167,

173-174)