Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION

"The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Proverbs 12:22

In an age where shortcuts are celebrated and loopholes exploited, a quiet moment in Japan offered the world a powerful reminder: true integrity isn’t about being seen — it’s about being steadfast in what’s right, even when no one is watching.

In April 2025, Japan’s electronic toll collection (ETC) system unexpectedly failed for nearly 38 hours, disrupting over 100 toll booths and causing widespread traffic delays. To ease congestion, authorities opened the gates and allowed free passage, later inviting drivers to voluntarily pay their tolls online. More than 24,000 drivers voluntarily paid their tolls online, even though they could have easily avoided doing so.

This remarkable response reflects Japan’s deep-rooted cultural values of meiyo (honor) and shinrai (trust) — principles that quietly uphold a society even in the absence of enforcement. It’s a living example of how civic ethics, when nurtured, can lead to collective accountability and mutual respect.

The incident drew global attention, standing in stark contrast to systems that rely heavily on surveillance and penalties. It affirmed a timeless truth: honesty and trustworthiness are not just personal virtues — they are the invisible threads that hold communities together.

Proverbs 12:22 reminds us that integrity is not just a virtue; it is a reflection of God’s truth in human behavior. Living truthfully invites God’s delight and marks us as children of light in a world often shadowed by dishonesty.

“Honesty and Integrity are absolutely essential for all areas of life.”