A Godly Man Can Be Trusted
Written by Brian Jennings, Posted in Lead Yourself, Your World
The following is 1 of the Thirteen Essential Traits of a Godly Man we communicated to our son, Cole, when he recently entered his teenage years. I continue to try to emulate and teach these to him. All men would do well to pursue them with all they have.
We also put together a book from these writings titled Journey to Manhood. You can download the entire book if you click here.
A Godly Man Can Be Trusted (by Steve Jennings)
A Godly man is a man of character and honesty. Being a man of character means being honest, but also having the courage to make the right choice even when it could mean personal loss or suffering.
I want to tell you about a man named Herbert Cain Casteel Sr. He lived in Princeton, MO, owned a department store named Casteel Brothers, had a farm outside of town with cattle and crops, and was also president of a local bank. He was the father of 10 children.
Being the president of the bank in some small towns was largely ceremonial. Banks wanted presidents who were respected in the community so that the people would trust the bank and do business with the bank. But many times the president did not work in the bank every day or own the bank. That was the case with Herbert.
In 1929 the Great Depression devastated the national economy. The financial markets collapsed, people lost their jobs, and many of them were unable to make payments to the bank for loans they had obtained to buy houses, cars and farms. Because people could not make their payments, banks were short of cash when people tried to withdraw their money. Some banks just closed and people lost everything they had saved. Panic quickly set in and it was no different in Princeton.
But, there was a difference in Princeton – Herbert Casteel. He kept the bank open, using his own money to make sure that no customers lost anything. He was not required to do this, but because he was a man of character, he chose to do the right thing at great personal risk.
Proverbs 21:3 says “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Herbert Cain Casteel Sr. believed in doing what is right, and his example has been passed down and lived out by his descendants.
Related Posts: A Godly Man Has a Positive Attitude, A Godly Man Faces His Fears
