Why Did People Call Abraham Lincoln “Honest Abe”?

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People called Abraham Lincoln ‘Honest Abe” because he was so honest. For example, once while working as a store clerk, he mistakenly took six cents too much from a customer. That night after the store closed, he walked three miles to return the customer’s money. His character trait of honesty is doubtlessly one reason people later selected him to be the President to the United States. Jesus assures us that character is important. On one occasion, he said this (Luke, Chapter 16): “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Jesus is quite emphatic in telling us that character counts. People without integrity are untrustworthy. Our world is in dire need of principled people—people with character who stand for righteousness and justice. D.L. Moody defined it well. He once said, “Character is what you are in the dark.”