Pair a Dimes and Paradigms

Cartoon characters are interesting to observe. We all have our favorites… Mickey Mouse, Mighty Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto, Aladdin and Sinbad, Snow White and Cinderella… who are some of your favorites?

Then there are those not so favorite cartoon characters, like Snidely Whiplash, Brutto, the Wiley Coyote, the Evil Witch… can you think of some others?

But the distinguishing factor between good cartoon characters and bad cartoon characters is a matter of personality… good –vs- evil, right –vs- wrong.

So often people are like cartoon characters… good or evil. It is what the Bible refers to as righteous and unrighteous. The righteous do what is right. The unrighteous do not do what is right.

This is particularly important because many Christians struggle with doing the right thing and often succumb to doing the wrong thing. If your Christianity were to be measured by your behavior what kind of Cartoon Character would you be? Who would you be? I'd like to think of myself as Prince Charming… but I'm sure my wife would say that I'm Goofy.

Are you a good character or a bad character? Jesus said you will know them by their fruit.

It's been said that, "Character is what you do when nobody is watching. Character is how you treat people who can do absolutely nothing for you. Character is how you react when the pressure is on. Character is deciding beforehand that you are going to do the right thing."

Every day we're faced with decisions - many of which are made when no one is watching, at least no one we can see. But let's determine in our hearts to do the right thing - because the integrity of our character truly counts. We may not see the dividends immediately - but be assured that God is keeping track of our decisions, and He will make good on every one!

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

The King and the Seed

There is a story about an aging king who woke up one day to the realization that if he were to die there would be no male in the royal family to take his place. He was the last male in the royal family in a culture where only a male could succeed to the throne… and the king was getting very, very old. He decided that if he could not give birth to a male, he would adopt a son who then could take his place but he insisted that such an adopted son must be extraordinary in every sense of the word. So he launched a competition in his kingdom, open to all boys, no matter what their background.

Hundreds of boys applied and competed with one another. They were tested in academics, physical strength and endurance, swordsmanship, customs and courtesies, and in every imaginable way. After months of grueling competition only ten boys were left.  

There was little to separate these boys in terms of intelligence and physical attributes and capabilities. So, the king said to them, ‘I have one last test and whoever wins will become my adopted son and heir to my throne.'

Then he said, ‘This kingdom depends solely on agriculture. So the king must know how to cultivate plants. So here is a seed of corn for each of you. Take it home and plant and nurture it for three weeks. At the end of three weeks, we shall see who has done the best job of cultivating the seed. That person will be my heir-apparent.'

The boys took their seeds and hurried home. They each got a flower pot and planted the seed as soon as they got home. There was much excitement in the kingdom as the people anxiously waited to see who was destined to be their next king.

In one home, the boy and his parents were almost heartbroken when after days of intense care, the seed failed to sprout. He did not know what had gone wrong with his. He had selected the soil carefully, he had applied the right quantity and type of fertilizer, he had been very dutiful in watering it at the right intervals, he had even prayed over it day and night and yet his seed had turned out to be unproductive.

Some of his friends advised him to go and buy a seed from the market and plant that. ‘After all,' they said, ‘how can anyone tell one seed of corn from another?' But his parents who had always taught him the value of integrity reminded him that if the king wanted them to plant any corn, he would have asked them to go for their own seed. "If you take anything different from what the king gave you that would be dishonest.' They said. ‘Maybe you are not destined for the throne. If so, let it be, but don't deceive the king.".

Finally the day came when the boys returned to the palace. Each of them proudly exhibited their corn seedling. It was obvious that the other nine boys had had great success with their seeds. The king began making his way down the line of eager boys and asked each of them, ‘Is this what came out of the seed I gave you?'

And each boy responded, ‘Yes, your majesty.' And the king would nod and move down the line.

The king finally got to the last boy in the line-up. The boy was shaking with fear. He knew that the king was going to have him thrown into prison for wasting his seed. ‘What did you do with the seed I gave you?' the king asked. ‘I planted it and cared for it diligently, your majesty, but no matter what I did, it failed to sprout.' the boy said tearfully as the crowd booed him.

But the king raised his hands and signaled for silence. Then he said, ‘My people… behold your next king.' The people were confused. ‘Why that one?' many asked. ‘How can he be the right choice? His seed did not even grow!'

The king took his place on his throne with the boy by his side and said, ‘I gave these boys boiled seeds. This test was not for cultivating corn. It was the test of character; a test of integrity. It was the ultimate test.'

If a king must have one quality, it must be that he should be above dishonesty. Only this boy passed the test. A boiled seed cannot sprout.' Never!!