Q: My friend and I went into a store, and when he came out he showed me a couple packs of gum he’d stolen.
I told him it wasn’t right, but he said nobody would miss them. What should I do?
A: Let’s look at the choices you’re facing. As we see it, you have three options. First, you could ignore the fact that your friend took the gum and say nothing to anyone. On the other hand, you could tell somebody else what happened. Or you could reason with your friend and encourage him to confess and make things right.
What do you think the consequences would be in each situation? In the first instance, if you say nothing, your friend might develop a false confidence, thinking that it’s easy to steal and get away with it. It might even encourage him to continue being dishonest!
What if you tell on your friend? You’ll clear yourself, but your friendship may be at stake.
Finally, if you try to reason with your friend, he might not appreciate it or take your advice—but then again, he might. That’s up to him.
Now, what should you do? Pray about your decision and then do what you feel God wants you to.