Who Will Feed the Cows?

 I read an article about a conference that a man had driven many hours to attend. He was at the conference a short time and had to turn around and drive the many hours back home. When asked why he had driven that many hours to attend for two hours. He was urged to rent a room, then to drive back the next day, but his reply was, "Who will feed the cows?"

Responsibility. That's a big word. Integrity is another big word. They are similar, but not the same.

Being responsible is having the responsibility of caring for something or someone else.That man had the responsibility to care for the cows. Being responsible is having the duty to care for something, having integrity is doing your best to take care of your duty.

I've come across these notes on integrity.

Integrity is:

Choosing courage over comfort,

Right over fun, or fast, or easy,

Choosing to practice values,

Rather than just professing them.

Indeed many scriptures rank amongst works of poetry and beauty. The fourth chapter of Philippians is commendable, yet Philippians 4:8&9 shine a bit brighter. Verse 8 because of its call to excellence, and verse 9 because the Apostle Paul though not boasting of himself gives a picture of himself.  

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9 ASV)

In comparing what we know of the life of Paul we can understand that although he wasn't perfect, neither did he ever claim to be perfect: 

"Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:" (1 Timothy 1:15 ASV)

Yet he lived a life that chose integrity, that chose courage over comfort, right over fun or easy. He chose to practice values, and in that way his actions professed his convictions. When he writes: 

"The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do..." that is the same as saying 'do as I do, not just as I say'. Or as he says in another place,

"Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample." (Philippians 3:17 ASV)

Oh, how we need righteous people. Not self-righteous people, but people we can look up to and follow, not because they are perfect, but in the ways that they imitate Christ and follow in His steps.Choose Jesus, choose life, choose today. 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!