How I prayed when they padlocked my business

"It seemed as though the stand for honesty I had taken had put the store in jeopardy."

By John Quincy Adams III

A number of years ago, I owned a retail store in the garment center in New York City. It was a time of financial volatility, and the entire fashion industry was in a deep recession. Since many of my customers were clothing companies, my business was directly affected.

During this time I discontinued a business practice, common to those in my field, that I knew was dishonest. This change did not gain approval from some of my employees. Some felt I was being naive in dealing with what they considered to be forces that could threaten the life of the business. Still, I remained committed to what I knew was right.

Time passed, and the store was confronted with a large tax bill that we had been unable to pay. It seemed as though the stand for honesty that I had taken—and that had reduced our income—had put the store in jeopardy. Yet I knew that the righteous stand was God-impelled, and for that very reason we couldn't be punished, or deprived of good. God, divine Truth, requires us to give up sin in order to advance, but He always supports us in our efforts.

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How I prayed when they padlocked my business

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