Encouragement

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Becky’s Reward
© 2009

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Becky Bates, a 14 year old high school student, was walking on her way home to meet with her father. A father—daughter outing was planned to purchase a brand new computer for the A minus student. Then a very strange event occurred. Next to a mailbox was a very large, thick Manila envelope. Becky picked up the envelope, put it under her three books and returned on her walk home. On her arrival, she opened the envelope. A surge of bound fifty dollar bills scattered across the dining room table. When Becky counted the money, she learned the envelope had $50,000 in it.

“Oh, my!” Becky said. “I’ve never seen this much money! I could buy a really nice computer, internet service for several years and cell phone service as well without hurting mom and dad budget.” Then she realized that this much money to belong to someone and it would be missed. Soon her parents would be home and she would have to explain where the money came from and how she came to possess it. She also knew she had to be truthful and give the money back to its rightful owner.

Forty minutes after she arrived home, her father entered their home to find his daughter standing over a neatly arranged pile of money. “Dad,” Becky said. “On my way home from school I found this large envelope with all of this money in it. When I counted it, the amount was $50,000. It’s not mine so I know I have to give it back to whomever owns it. Dad, we need to take the money down to the police department right now.”

As Becky and her father returned the money to the envelope, she admitted to her father: “Dad, I had thoughts of keeping all of this money. I then realized that the right thing to do is to return this money to it rightful owner. It is hard thinking otherwise.”

With a smile on his face, her father held his eldest daughter child close to him: “Becky, I’ve always been proud of you. You know that. But on this day, I am extremely proud of you! Though tempted you’ve done the right thing. Temptations are going to occur throughout life. There is no sin when you are facing temptations. Making good moral decisions are never easy but they are the best decisions. You’ll see that your decision in this regard is the right one someday. In the meantime, let’s get the money over to the police and its rightful owner.”

Within minutes after leaving their house, Becky and her father stood before the desk sergeant. “Sir, I found this envelope of money this afternoon on my way home from school. I counted it. You’ll find that there’s $50,000 there. Nothing is missing.”

“Well, young lady I have a surprise for you and your father,” the police officer said smiling in a calm seemingly uneventful voice. “The owner of this money came here to report having a lost a large envelope of money in the amount of $50,000 no more than ten minutes ago. If you and your father will just step into the next room, I will introduce you to him. I’m very sure he wants to meet you.”

“Good afternoon, young lady, my name is Vernon Payne. If you don’t know who I am, that’s alright because I don’t know you either. However, I own companies here in the United States and in 22 other nations. My personal wealth is in the billions of dollars so losing $50,000 is a rather small compared to what I am worth. I’m not bragging or putting you and your father down or myself above you. What I am attempting to point out is this—that you are a remarkable young person! I’ve learned from the police officer and your father that it was your idea to return the money to its rightful owner. Because you are a young person of integrity, honesty and truthfulness, I’m going to give you this $50,000. And when you get a little older, I’d be very pleased if you’d come to work for me in one of many companies and businesses. I need good, young, honest people of integrity such as young working for me. I know I can rely on you to do the right thing. I’m giving you my business card and I will make a note of your name and what you’ve done here. You look life you are a high school student. Is that so, Becky?”

Shocked and in awe, Becky did not know what to say momentarily. When she did speak, she stammered: “Thank you, sir. It would be a pleasure to someday work in one of your companies if I am worthy.”

“Oh, there is no doubt of your worthiness, Becky Bates. In addition to the money and future employment, I’m setting up a college scholarship fund for you. You may obtain as much formal college education as you may wish. All of these things you will receive because you resisted the temptation to keep what was not yours and your decision to return them to its rightful owner.”

How strong is your ethical fiber? Will you cave into temptation because you believe no one sees what you are doing? Will you also allow temptation to triumph when you know even suspect what it is you are about to do is wrong? Page and pages of Biblical and human history are full of events and stories wherein wrong appears much more enticing than what is the right thing to do. In times past to the present, individuals have been and continue to hold a notion that wrong is much sweeter than right. They convince themselves and others that wrong is great even good and equivalent to what is right. They will actively insist that the Becky Bates of this world do not exist and if they do, they are stupid and out of place. Take heart, they do exist in the thousands even millions. You know some of these individuals. They are examples of the spirit of God in the hearts and minds of humankind. These individuals also indicate that God is alive and very well despite the attempts by some to deny His existence.

No matter what temptations and evil come your way, it will profit you to resist them. Generally, few will profit in the manner Becky Bates did. It is Christ’s promise to humanity that each victory over temptation and evil will be reflected in ways known and unknown in a person’s earthly life and definitely in their life hereafter in the most wondrous way!

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