Integrity

Have you ever asked someone for something or to do something for you, and they said they would like to think about it for some reason or another, and then they never get back to you with an answer? That is frustrating, and shows a lack of integrity of the part of the one who evidently was just making an excuse. But what exactly does "integrity" mean? It is kind of hard to define, but I think we know it in a person when we see it. Here are three pretty good dictionary definitions:· steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code (The American Heritage Dictionary)· moral soundness (WordNet – Princeton University)· the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness (Oxford Dictionary)The Biblical Job certainly had integrity. We read in Job 2:3 - "And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." Consider these three passages encouraging integrity:· Prov 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.· Prov 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.· Prov 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.Here are a few Bible traits that will characterize you if you are a person of integrity ...· always telling the truth of course, even if it might hurt someone's feelings - Rev 21:8· doing what you told someone you were going to do (keeping your word), or let them know why not – Rom 1:31· willing to reveal the exact truth of a situation even when it puts you in a bad light – Exod 32:24· owning up to something when it is your fault – Gen 4:8-9, James 5:16 (on the very first Andy Griffith Show episode, Aunt Bee admitted she accidently let Opie’s pet bird out of the cage, when she could have just as easily kept her mouth shut)· telling someone “no” instead of just ignoring or avoiding them – II Cor 8:21, 13:7· does the right thing even when no one is watching – Matt 23:3,5· when people such as coworkers, neighbors, etc. always assume without hesitation that I will do the honest and "right" thing – Acts 6:3, I Pet 2:12, Eph 6:5-6· stands the same way on issues when different types of groups of people are around – John 12:42, Prov 17:15· when disagreeing with someone, not smoothing it over by talking only about what you agree on – Ezek 3:18, II Tim 4:2-4· when what people think, promise, say, and do all coincide, they have integrity – Phil 4:9, Rom 2:3· do not violate your conscience – Rom 14:23, I Cor 8:10· consistently being true to your convictions (do not compromise principles) – Gen 20:5, Job 2:9Here are a few practical examples of people showing integrity:• return change if you receive too much Eph 4:28• pay your debts Psa 37:21, Rom 13:8• don’t seek/accept charity/handout II Thess 3:10 (except because of catastrophe, something out of your control)• preach what is needed Ezek 3:18, Acts 20:26-27,31 - if we were to get a chance to preach at a denominational church, we would preach something they need (don’t already agree with); why not the same if we preach at a church of Christ?• be willing to hear the other side to consider that you might be wrong Matt 13:15, Prov 18:17• practice what you preach Matt 23:3• don’t compromise your stand II Cor 8:21• don’t use an argument that contradicts your position on another issue II Cor 13:7• be willing to admit your position to someone you respect, but who disagrees with you Rom 12:17• don’t make excuses for not doing something Luke 14:18Back in 2005 a college football coach was convicted of drunken driving, and his athletic director put out a statement that he knew the coach as a man of "impeccable integrity." This quote shows that some people have a misguided understanding of what integrity is.Curtis Duncan gave me this example …A good example of this and one that I admired for his action happened when I worked for Liberty National Life Ins Co. back in the sixties or seventies. One of my Supervisors was called on to teach an advance insurance class and one who passed would have that designation attached to his name like a nurse would who had training to be a Registered Nurse (RN). The Manager. who at that time, did not have that designation asked the teacher to give him the answers to the final test. The teacher did not give the Manager the answer sheet he had requested explaining that he was obligated to teach the class and give the required test with integrity and that to do as the Manager had requested would be dishonest. I hate to report that this teacher was then fired by the Manager.All Christians should always act with complete integrity.