WALK SECURELY

 

I always like to start with something funny so here are some Christian snap jokes.  2. Who was the fastest runner in the race?  Adam. He was first in the human race.

3. Why are atoms Catholic?  Because they have mass.

4. Why didn’t they play cards on the Ark?  Because Noah was always standing on the deck

5. Why didn’t Noah ever go fishing?  He only had two worms.

 

Integrity – “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9  Solomon gives a pithy but powerful truth.  When you walk with integrity you are secure.  When you decide to shortcut the process or go after crooked ways.  You will be found out. 

 

The definition of Integrity is this.  The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. "he is known to be a man of integrity"  synonyms:    honesty, honor, good character, principle(s), ethics, morals, righteousness, morality, virtue, decency, fairness, sincerity, truthfulness, trustworthiness and living whole and undivided.  In the Bible it is soundness and completeness.

 

Some examples in the Bible and Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph and Daniel.  They were men of faith who lived their faith in honesty, with ethics, morality, truthfulness and trustworthiness.  Talk about Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.

 

I am now going to give you some principles and ways to be people of integrity.

 

One of the best definitions of character we've ever heard goes something like this: "Character is what you do when no one else is looking."

 

People of integrity value what is honest, true, noble, trustworthy, kind and right ahead of personal gain. Once integrated into our foundational operating system, integrity ceases to be optional or "add on" but instead becomes a way of life.

 

Here are some suggestions that will help once we decide to make integrity a foundational value:

 

1. Root yourself in a moral foundation. It's been said that everyone has a god; the question is only "What god do we choose?" But many of us fail to even address the issue. Once considered, this question can give us a firm place to anchor.  Put your life in the hand of the Lord. 

 

2. Look for the positive. Load your consciousness in a positive direction by scanning the news for examples of integrity. Read the Bible and look for examples.  Make endorsing integrity a stronger value in your life than criticism and scorn.

 

3. Resist the temptation that comes into your life.  Determine to be a person of integrity; then practice at home, at work, at play—wherever you are.  This is a personal decision.

 

4. Determine to live for others ahead of yourself. The root enemy of integrity is selfishness. The "Golden Rule" requires treating others the way we would like to be treated. It is impossible to follow the Golden Rule without a boost to personal integrity.

 

5. Participate in an active accountability group. There's a great story about the great leader Moses when his friends Aaron and Hur stood with him to hold his arms up high until the battle was won. We all need friends to hold our arms up, to help keep us strong.

 

6. Partner with a friend where you need to make progress. Take accountability to the next level by asking another person to hold your feet to the fire where necessary. This can be a mutual arrangement. We know a man who asks his friend to call several times a week and ask point-blank if he’s been morally right.

 

7. Be in the habit of sharing everything with your spouse. When we don't keep any secrets from our spouse, it tends to have an impact on who we are.

 

8. Practice the habit of imagining the presence of someone whose opinion you value. What if my father was present at this business meeting? I wonder how Grandpa would enjoy being part of this foursome? Would I tell this joke in the presence of my wife? How would my kids feel if they listened in on this conversation?

 

9. If you have children hold them accountable. It's cliché to say that "to teach is to learn." But the truth is, every lesson we bring to our children is something we need to hear too.

 

10.  Lastly remember one day you will have to give and account to God.  You always have an audience of one.  You cannot hide from God.  Talk about Lois hid under the bed thinking she g=could escape God’s sight.

 

1 Pet 3:16  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

 

Prov 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

 

Heb 13:8 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

 

Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

 

There was once an Emperor from China who had no children and needed to choose a successor.

Thousands of children from across the kingdom came to the palace and were surprised when the Emperor exclaimed that he was going to choose one of them.  He gave them all a seed.  They were to go home to their villages, plant the seed in a pot and tend it for a year.  When they return in a year, the Emperor would judge their efforts and choose his successor. There was a boy named Ling who received his seed and returned to his village.

 

His mother helped him to choose a pot and put some soil into it. Ling watered his pot every day. Once a week, the children of the village would get together to compare their plants.  After a few weeks, there were signs of life in all but Ling’s pot.  The weeks passed and Ling continued to water his pot every day.

After a few months, the pots really came to life.  Some had trees starting to grow, some had flowers and some had leafy shrubs.  Poor old Ling still had nothing growing in his pot, leading the other children to make fun of him.  Ling continued to water his pot every day.

 

A year passed and it was time to return to the palace to show what had grown and decide on the new heir.  Ling was anxious as his pot still showed no signs of life.  “What if they punish me?  They won’t know that I’ve watered it every day, they’ll think that I’m lazy.”  His mother looked him in the eye and explained that whatever the consequences were, he had to return and show the Emperor his barren pot. Ling and the other children entered the palace gates.  By now, some of the plants were looking magnificent and the children were wondering which one the Emperor would choose. Ling was embarrassed as other children looked at his lifeless pot and scoffed.

 

The Emperor came out and started to make his way through the crowd, looking at the many impressive trees, shrubs and flowers that were on display.  The boys all puffed their chests out and tried to look as regal as possible, hoping that they would be chosen as the heir to the empire. Then the Emperor came to Ling.  He looked at the pot then he looked at Ling.  “What happened here?”  He asked. “I watered the pot every day, but nothing ever grew.”  Ling muttered nervously. Then he grumbled something to himself and moved on.  After a few hours, the Emperor finally finished his assessment.

 

He stood in front of the children and congratulated them on their efforts.  “Clearly, some of you desperately want to be Emperor and would do anything to make that happen, but there is one boy that I would like to point out as he has come to me with nothing.  Ling, come here please.”  “Oh no,” thought Ling.  He slowly sauntered to the front of the group, holding his barren pot.

 

The Emperor held up the pot for all to see and the other children laughed.  Then the Emperor continued, “A year ago, I gave you all a seed.  I told you to go away, plant the seed and return with your plant.  The seeds that I gave you all were boiled until they were no longer viable and wouldn’t grow, but I see before me thousands of plants and only one barren pot.  Integrity and courage are more important values for leadership than proud displays, so Ling here will be my heir.”  Let’s close with prayer.