What would you do?

Question

Today I went to the bank to cash two $69 dollar checks. When the teller slid one of the checks through the check processor it read $690.00 instead of $69.00. I didn't realize what was going on until he asked me what denominations I wanted my money in and then started counting out $100 bills. When he was done and about to give me my money, I smiled and kindly replied, "You may want to take another look at the two checks I just gave you." He was surprised to see that both checks were only $69.00 each. Keeping the money was not an option. However, I couldn't help but wonder how I might have responded if that had happened eight years ago before I was saved and accepted Christ as my personal Saviour. I would like to think that I would've done the same thing I did today, however, I am not 100% sure I would have. What would you have done?

Answer 1

I am proud to say that I would've done the same thing as you without hesitation. Look there's a bonus, you probably saved that Bank Tellers job. Pat yourself on the back for me please. Thanks.

Answer 2

I would have done the same thing as you. And like someone else said, I don't need religion to feel this way. Morals and religion do not automatically go hand-in-hand. You can have either one without the other.

I saw a joke in Reader's Digest years ago. A man goes shopping in a Christian bookstore. After he has the items he wants to buy, he goes to the check-out desk. As the clerk is ringing up his items, the customer sees a baseball cap sitting on a little display hanging out from the wall behind the check-out desk. The cap has the letters "W.W.J.D.?" The customer asks the clerk about what the letters mean. The clerk explains that it means "What Would Jesus Do?" The clerk says that it is a source of moral inspiration; every person who is wondering whether or not it is right to do a particular something should ask themselves this question before they do it. The customer stood there looking at the hat for a second, and then he said, "One thing he would NOT do is pay $17.95 for that hat."

Answer 3

I believe in personal responsibility. The bank teller is an agent of the bank and therefore he was responsible for the bank. If the bank or an agent thereof makes a mistake and gives me more money than requested, well, it's the bank's mistake and the bank's problem. I don't need or want to be charitable to irresponsible people or institutions, nor should I be, because I would be enabling future irresponsibility on their part and mine. I could suggest that what you did was allow this foolish bank teller to retain his job, thereby rewarding his ineptitude and laziness. All you did was save the bank $521 today, but the agent's irresponsibility could well cost it much more later. Further, you would be able to use the money to better your life quite a bit more than the returned money would better the bank's existence, and because you're a member of society you'd be bettering society by keeping the money.

After reading the above arguments, I'm sure you'll come to the conclusion that I would keep the money. It's the only truly ethical choice for the long-term benefit of the bank and is better in both the short- and long-term for society.

Answer 4

Before anything else, I'd like to commend you for the honesty of your act. Not a lot of people can do what you have done. That is a well-thought and right act for such a situation.

Personally, I will also ask the teller to look at my checks again. I would not want the incident to haunt me and to bite me in the a** in the end. I know how karma works so I will definitely be honest about it as well. :)

Answer 5

i would have done the exact same thing that you did. if i took the money its tantamount to stealing. i have to say though that christ or any other religion has nothing to do with it and i think that it is kinda sad and disappointing that you say that. people shouldnt need religion to do the right thing in this case. it is a matter of principles.

when an elderly trips and falls the words, 'god wants me to help her' or 'i should help her because that is what god would want me to do' should not enter your head at all. you just assist the poor lady and bring her back to her feet. you should feel glad that you helped that elderly from, probably, sustaining a serious injury instead of feeling glad that you did what jesus would do. '

and are you willing to stake your life that all who accept christ do this?

i'm not attacking your motivation to help a person. i'm glad you returned the money that did not belong to you. you did a very noble thing that some people might not have even considered doing, but i feel that motivation to help a person should not come from religion but from sincerely wanting to do the right thing.

Answer 6

I would have done the same as you, although Christ has no play into it. I have morals. I know that the teller would have been in BIG trouble for the missing $ when they calculated everything at the end of the day.

Answer 7

Honesty has nothing to do with christ! I could have walked out of a grocery store today with 3 six packs of pepsi, I questioned the cashier and paid for those she missed in the scan. I don't rip off anyone! I have morals and standards even though I'm unemployed.

Answer 8

I would have done the same thing but Jesus has nothing to do with it... Why is he dragged into every little thing?
Also the bank would have realized the money was gone and you would've gotten in trouble.

Answer 9

I would have done the same for ethical reasons. On the legal side, the error would have been caught and the money deducted from you account anyway. If you bank didn't catch it, whoever wrote the check would.

Answer 10

I would have done the same thing you did...honesty is the best policy and you know you would have felt guilty benefitting from that teller's mistake. I am born again and would have shown them their mistake whether I was born again or not. It is the way I was brought up.