Only the grace of God
The young employee opened his e-mail and saw a request from the CEO to immediately see him. Deep down he knew immediately that it was not good.
His mind racing, he recounted all the monies he had misappropriated from the organization. Somehow he had always thought that it would never be found out. After all it was only a few thousands. But he had been reckless despite several opportunities to restitute and come clean he had continued.
As he shut down his system he glanced around. It was as if all the other staff were looking at him.
Walking towards the lift to take him to the 15th floor, his heart was heavy. He had brought shame to his family. How would he tell his wife, his children? Hmm… His workers group in church, even his Pastor. This job that he loved so much and was the envy of many. No one would believe he just resigned. That is assuming the company did not arrest him and file criminal charges against him. His heart sank even further when he thought of the police cells and that fact that he may soon be their guest.
As the door of the lift opened on the 15th Floor he saw the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and 2 of his staff waiting on the passage leading to the CEO’s office. Walking pass them his heart beat raced at ten times its normal rate. He felt that at anytime now he would most likely collapse in a heap on the floor. The young man walked into the CEO’s reception the Secretary ushered him into the office of the CEO with a wave of her hand. Now he was convinced that he was in serious trouble. Clearly the Secretary knew. Then to make matters worse out of the corner of his eye he saw the CSO and his staffs walk into the CEO’s reception just as he shut the door behind him and faced his CEO.
He was offered a seat by the CEO who calmly questioned him about the whole misappropriation issue.
He asked if their suspicions were correct and the young man answered in the affirmative.
Then the Executive surprisingly asked this question. “If I keep you in your present capacity, can I trust you in the future?” The young man was shocked and for a few seconds he was not sure he had heard correctly and even if he did, where was this leading up to.
But he brightened up and answered “Yes, Sir you surely can, I have learned my lesson”. The Executive responded, “I will not press charges or have you arrested and you can continue in your present responsibility”.
Thank you, Sir. Thank you Sir”, was all the young man could blurt out as he slowly made for the door.
The CEO then said to him. “I think you ought to know however, that you are the second man in this organization who succumbed to temptation and was shown leniency. I was the first. What you have done, I did. The mercy you are receiving, I received. It is only the Grace of God that can keep us both”.
This story reminds us of the servant in Matthew 18 : 23 – 34 who was forgiven a debt of ten thousand talents by his Master, but he went out and when he saw another man that owed him one hundred shillings, (a fraction of what he was forgiven) he not only requested that he be paid in full but also committed his debtor to prison for failure to pay. Unfortunately his master heard and insisted that his debt of ten thousand talents was no longer forgiven and must be paid in full.
In this month of Grace (May) let us remember the words of that CEO to his young staff. ‘’Only the Grace of God can keep us all’’.
It is not our righteousness, nor power, might or spirituality. Only the Grace of God.
Have a blessed month.
Chudi Ubosi