Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Integrity
Text: Proverbs 11:3
It is a fundamental moral and ethical principle characterized by honesty, sincerity, and consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. It involves being truthful and upright in all aspects of life, whether in personal relationships, professional conduct, or individual behavior. Someone with it adheres to a set of moral and ethical principles, maintains transparency, and demonstrates reliability, trustworthiness, and consistency in their words and actions. Essentially, it involves living in accordance with one’s values and principles, even when it may be challenging or inconvenient to do so.
Sure path
- Integrity is a guide that goes before you. It is a roadmap. It says this is the path I walk and when I’m faced with a temptation, I will remember that this is the path I walk.
- It is a moral compass.
- Guidance
- Decision to do right before it’s time to do right.
- Decision to have the right attitude before it’s time to have the right attitude.
- The decision to speak right before it’s your turn to talk.
- Someone said, “You can borrow brains but you can’t borrow character.”
- Leadership
- One who leads themselves before and while they lead others.
- One who earns respect instead of demanding it.
- One who uses what he has to benefit others
- One who gives without strings attached.
Safety
- Psalms 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
- It prevents trouble rather than trying to fix trouble
- The world, the flesh, and the devil will beat you up if you have no integrity.
- Some of you are unhappy because you waver back and forth in temptation and out of it and you blame others for your misery. Your problem is you lack integrity and you’re just getting emotionally, spiritually beat up because you lack integrity.
- It is the result of many good decisions.
- Transgressors are destroyed by their perversion.
- Consequences of lacking integrity
- Dangers of being deceitful or dishonest
Strength
- Integrity is critical in a building. Structural strength.
- People with no integrity, won’t show up to work, won’t be honest in relationships, they can’t be relied on.
- We are fascinated by people who are immovable, full of resolve, and steadfast. Job asks the following questions for you and I.
- Is there a circumstance in which you’d give up your integrity? Money? Sex?
- Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver because he loved money.
- What opportunity is convenient enough? What do you do when you think no one is looking. That’s called a breach in your character and it’s an area you lack integrity. That’s a weakness that will be exploited.
- Do you have a desire strong enough? Is there a demand of your flesh so strong that you have given in to it and no longer yield to the spirit? That is an area where you’ve justified a lack of integrity.
Standard
- Let’s make some applications.
- Professional pursuits
- In the workplace
- Upholding honesty and trustworthiness in business dealings
- Building a reputation of reliability and integrity for career success
- Personal relationships
- In friendships and family dynamics keeps family and friendships from falling apart. Why? If you refuse to let perversion and corruption into the relationship, then the relationship is enjoyable without any threat of being destroyed.
- Being truthful and dependable in interpersonal interactions.
- Cultivate trust and respect through integrity in relationships.
- Personal development
- In self-discipline and accountability
- Aligning actions with values and principles
- Strengthening character and moral fortitude through consistent integrity
