Money versus Honor In his bestselling memoir Big Russ and Me, the late NBC newsman Tim Russert recalled a time when his father, a foreman with the South Buffalo Sanitation Department, qualified for a promotion. Securing the position would have meant a significant raise for a man with a family to support. Big Russ, as Russert’s father was called, didn’t get that promotion, but it wasn’t until years later that his son discovered why. Big Russ revealed that he was approached by three superiors who asked him to remove himself from the potential promotion list so they could fill the position with a man of their choosing who had lesser credentials. In return for the favor, they would give Big Russ an even bigger salary bump. He turned them down, resulting in no raise or promotion for himself. Big Russ told his son, “I know what I could have done with the money, but I also knew what that money would do to me…And how could I tell you kids to do the right thing if I ever did something like that?” “That story means the world to me,” wrote Tim Russert. “Dad didn’t get the promotion, but he kept his honor.” The wise will inherit honor. (Psalm 3:35) Lord, help me to choose integrity over personal gain.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 00:50:23 +0000
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