PRACTICAL, BIBLICAL GUIDANCE

INTEGRITY VS. THE WORLD

Integrity defined - "Complete, whole, entire, undivided, unimpaired."
"A double-minded man, unstable in his ways, will not receive anything from the Lord"
(James 1:7-8)

"Lord, who will abide in thy tabernacle? Who will dwell in thy holy hill?

He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.

He that doesn't back-bite with his tongue, or do evil to his neighbor, or take up a reproach against his neighbor.

He in whose eyes a vile person is contemptable, but he honors them that fear the Lord.

He that makes committments at his own cost, and doesn't back out.

He who doesn't use trickery to gain money, or profit unjustly off the innocent.

He that does these things shall be established.

Consider Eph 4:15: "Speaking the truth in love." & discuss your convictions about these:

LYING

(Prov 12:22)

STEALING

(Prov 29:24)

CHEATING

(Prov 20:10, 11:1)

VARIOUS

(Prov 20:6)

a.) To cover or promote sin
b.) To get gain
c.) To cover failure
d.) To preserve boundary
e.) To keep peace/unity
f.) To defend another
g.) To win war (Rahab)

a.) Personal property
b.) Corporate property
c.) Indefinite borrowing
d.) Defrauding job
e.) Defrauding government
f.) Copy-writes

a.) Tests & term papers
b.) Sports
c.) Bribes of public officials, customers.
d.) Down-grading materials or specifications

a.) Broken promises and commitments
b.) Separation from sin & worldliness
c.) Subversion (gossip & busy bodying)
d.) Traffic violations

Where - On Job, at School, at Play, at Home.

Who - When measured at work, in the first three categories above, here's 3 interesting comparisons:
Men were more than twice as likely as women to engage in lying, stealing, cheating.
Executives and other leaders were more than twice as likely to engage, as were subordinates.
Christians were only 6% better than non-Christians

GOD'S VIEW - ACTS 5:1-4 - ANANIAS & SAPHIRA

"You have not lied to men, but to God."

Were they killed over a small infraction?

No, they were killed as a warning, following their blatant lack of integrity concerning worship and church business issues.

THE PROCESS OF INTEGRITY:
1.) "Morality, like art, means drawing a line somewhere." KNOW what your principles are, and what they're based on.
2.) Have the COURAGE to follow your principles, based on your faith in God.
3.) Have the DISCIPLINE to decline against initial temptations. Build a HABBIT of integrity "I don't lie." "I don't cheat." Etc.
4.) Based on your culture and your own weakness, keep a sensible MARGIN OF SAFETY to preserve your integrity.

BENEFITS OF INTEGRITY
1.) Reputation (Prov 22:1)
2.) Clear conscience, which enables clear thinking. (Prov 10:9)
3.) Intimacy (Psalm 51:6)
4.) Elevation (Good character becomes a habit and blesses others around you.)
5.) Effective leadership (of family, etc.) (Prov 20:7, for both #4&5)
6.) Evangelism

INTEGRITY VS. THE WORLD

LYING

(Prov 12:22)

STEALING

(Prov 29:24)

CHEATING

(Prov 20:10, 11:1)

VARIOUS

(Prov 20:6)

a.) To cover or promote sin
b.) To get gain
c.) To cover failure
d.) To preserve boundary
e.) To keep peace/unity
f.) To defend another
g.) To win war (Rahab)

a.) Personal property
b.) Corporate property
c.) Indefinite borrowing
d.) Defrauding job
e.) Defrauding government
f.) Copy-writes

a.) Tests & term papers
b.) Sports
c.) Bribes of public officials, customers.
d.) Down-grading materials or specifications

a.) Broken promises and commitments
b.) Separation from sin & worldliness
c.) Subversion (gossip & busy bodying)
d.) Traffic violations

Where - On Job, at School, at Play, at Home.

GOD'S VIEW - ACTS 5:1-4 - ANANIAS & SAPHIRA

"Not all people are as lovely or sought-after or gifted. But anyone join the pursuit of integrity."

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INTEGRITY VS. THE WORLD

LYING

(Prov 12:22)

STEALING

(Prov 29:24)

CHEATING

(Prov 20:10, 11:1)

VARIOUS

(Prov 20:6)

a.) To cover or promote sin b.) To get gain c.) To cover failure d.) To preserve boundary e.) To keep peace/unity f.) To defend another g.) To win war (Rahab)

a.) Personal property b.) Corporate property c.) Indefinite borrowing d.) Defrauding job e.) Defrauding government f.) Copy-writes

a.) Tests & term papers b.) Sports c.) Bribes of public officials, customers. d.) Down-grading materials or specifications

a.) Broken promises and commitments b.) Separation from sin & worldliness c.) Subversion (gossip & busy bodying) d.) Traffic violations

Where - On Job, at School, at Play, at Home.

GOD'S VIEW - ACTS 5:1-4 - ANANIAS & SAPHIRA

"Not all people are as lovely or sought-after or gifted. But anyone join the pursuit of integrity."

(Back to Practical Biblical Guidance Index)

(Back to Boltons front page)

a.) To cover or promote sin
b.) To get gain
c.) To cover failure
d.) To preserve boundary
e.) To keep peace/unity
f.) To defend another
g.) To win war (Rahab)

a.) Personal property
b.) Corporate property
c.) Indefinite borrowing
d.) Defrauding job
e.) Defrauding government
f.) Copy-writes

a.) Tests & term papers
b.) Sports
c.) Bribes of public officials, customers.
d.) Down-grading materials or specifications

a.) Broken promises and commitments
b.) Separation from sin & worldliness
c.) Subversion (gossip & busy bodying)
d.) Traffic violations