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Integrity
'I have acted with integrity' Psalm 26:1
To protect themselves from the barbaric hordes from the north, the people of China built the Great Wall. It was so high nobody could climb over it and so thick nobody could break through it, so they settled back to enjoy life. During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three different times. Not once did the enemy try to break down the wall or climb over it; they simply bribed the gatekeeper and marched in.
Can you believe they could let this happen? What went wrong? Lack of integrity! Integrity means doing the right thing - even when no one is looking. Integrity keeps us close to God. It stops us making foolish mistakes that damage our lives big time. It's why David writes to God in Psalm 26 asking Him to check him out and make sure he's living a life of integrity.
So here's your rough guide to living a life of integrity: Ask yourself the following questions:
(1) Am I the same, no matter who I'm with?
(2) Am I willing to make decisions that are best for others, even though another choice would benefit me more?
(3) Can I be counted on to keep the commitments I've made to God, myself and others?
(4) Do I do the right thing - even when no one is looking? If your answer to these questions is either is 'no', 'sometimes', or 'hmm, not sure' - in short anything other than yes - then ask God to help you get your integrity act together.
written by Bob Gass
'I have acted with integrity' Psalm 26:1
To protect themselves from the barbaric hordes from the north, the people of China built the Great Wall. It was so high nobody could climb over it and so thick nobody could break through it, so they settled back to enjoy life. During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three different times. Not once did the enemy try to break down the wall or climb over it; they simply bribed the gatekeeper and marched in.
Can you believe they could let this happen? What went wrong? Lack of integrity! Integrity means doing the right thing - even when no one is looking. Integrity keeps us close to God. It stops us making foolish mistakes that damage our lives big time. It's why David writes to God in Psalm 26 asking Him to check him out and make sure he's living a life of integrity.
So here's your rough guide to living a life of integrity: Ask yourself the following questions:
(1) Am I the same, no matter who I'm with?
(2) Am I willing to make decisions that are best for others, even though another choice would benefit me more?
(3) Can I be counted on to keep the commitments I've made to God, myself and others?
(4) Do I do the right thing - even when no one is looking? If your answer to these questions is either is 'no', 'sometimes', or 'hmm, not sure' - in short anything other than yes - then ask God to help you get your integrity act together.
written by Bob Gass
