Try to slot yourself based on one of these statements: a) I’m always ethical. b) I’m mostly ethical. c) I’m somewhat ethical. d) I’m seldom ethical. e) I’m never ethical. Which slot do you fall into? If we’re truthful, most of us would likely put ourselves in slot b). Why? Because of personal convenience. Think about it. Being completely ethical is hard work. Putting others first is inconvenient. Practising personal discipline is inconvenient. Risking confrontation is inconvenient. But if we’re serious about having an ethical standard to live by, we only need to look at this Golden Rule: ‘Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.’ And: 1) It brings peace and self-worth. You need to be able to live with yourself because ‘wherever you go you take yourself with you.’ If you feel you need to cheat a bit to do well at something, you lose self-respect, fear being exposed, lack confidence in approaching God, and your success feels hollow. 2) It works for everyone. When you treat other people the way you want to be treated, you both feel good about it; and when they reciprocate, you both feel good about it. Nobody loses out. 3) It’s easy to understand. You simply put yourself in the other person’s shoes. That’s it. There are no complicated rules and no loopholes.

What now?
Which of those statements do you feel you fit into? Take your answer honestly to God, and ask Him to help you where you’re struggling. Set a reminder on your phone to ask the same question each week, and notice how God’s gradually changing your heart.