Studies

Integrity

Someone who is sincere in promise, faithful in discharge of duty, upright in finances, loyal in service and honest in speech will not only win the respect and loyalty of those whom he leads but also the blessing of God. In today's world, with many prominent leaders from politics to religion to sport being caught in some scandalous or illegal activity, credibility is a rare yet essential quality. George Washington once said: "I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, -the character of an honest man." Nothing will erode your friends and followers trust in you quicker than discovering deceit or dishonesty in your character.

• Prov 12:19 Truthful lips ENDURE but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
• Prov 12:22 The Lord DETESTS lying lips but delights in men who are truthful.
• Prov 17:7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool - how much worse lying lips to a
  ruler.
• Prov 16:13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips.
• Prov 10:9 The man of integrity walks securely but he who takes crooked paths
  will be found out.
• Prov 25:13 Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a TRUSTWORTHY
  messenger to those who send him.
• Matt 22:15-17 Even Jesus' enemies acknowledged that he was a man of
  INTEGRITY.
• Acts 5:1-11 Annanias and Saphira discover how much God hates deceit !
• Acts 13:6-10 Elymus the sorcerer is rebuked by Paul for being full of ALL KINDS
  OF DECEIT, and being a child of the Devil.
• 1Peter 3:10 Whoever would love life MUST keep his tongue from evil and his lips
  from deceitful speech.

Practical Challenges:

• Decide to be such a person of integrity that even your enemies notice.
• Don't conveniently leave things out so that the person you are speaking to is left with a false impression.
• Don't exaggerate or blow things out of proportion.
• Don't 'sugar coat' your sin to cover up the extent of the problem.