- INTEGRITY & SINCERITY
- State of completeness, Unified, Integer, Wholeness
- Not even one thin slice removed
- There is no duplicity or hypocrisy
- Word matches actions
- Integrate to integrity. Making real connections with people
Path of Integrity Perceived path of Integrity
The path of integrity is not a
straight line of black and white decisions. We perceive it to be so but it is
not. The world of integrity and integrity decisions live in the grey areas of
life. These would be the areas that the bible does not always speak
clearly about. For example, the bible is very clear about sin and sin issues.
i.e. do not commit adultery. do not steal. do not lie. Do not cheat on your
taxes. However in the grey area we don't get such clear direction.
A better way to look at the path of integrity is to see it as an outward
growing spiral. We start out as a small speck as we begin our journey.
We sometimes walk going around and around the same problems and same
decision. As we learn to make the right decisions we expand our realm of
influence and our realm of responsibility.
- Job
- Psalm 84:11 No good thing will God withhold from them that walk in integrity
- Proverbs 2:7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity
- Proverbs 10:9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out
- Proverbs 20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity-how blessed are his sons after him
- Psalms 26:1-2 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity; and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart.
1. Integrity is based on God. Be set upon the rock.
a. Listen to God. He does what he says!!!!
b.
Abram wrestled for the city of
c. God put up a rainbow after Noah’s flood. A Covenant of his word.
d. Isaiah 44:26 I am the Lord….who carries out the words of his servants
2. Integrity is more than talk.[1]
a. Words must line up with actions.
b. Debts must be made. Restitution is a foundation of Integrity
i. Returning stolen items
ii. Returning Milk Crates
iii. Going to old bosses and repaying stolen hours!!
iv. True Story? When he shorted a customer $0.01 he walked five miles to return the change.
v.
3. Talent is a gift but Character is a choice
a. Integrity is also a choice. Do you do what you say you are going to do?
b. People volunteer. People get excited about the conference or the vision or a project but then do they show up?
c. Students sign up for class but then drop
d.
Did you count the cost first
e. Let your yes be yes and your no be no!
f. Do you as a contractor stand behind your work even when it breaks down and costs you money? My roofer says the problem is with the siding.
4. Integrity builds trust
a. Do what I say not what I do.
b. Look at Adultery. How can I break a vow made before God and still have the ability to lead an organization. He who is faithful in the little is faithful in big. Interesting note is that Bennis and Nanus surveyed sixty successful CEO’s and almost all were married to their first wife
c. Refer back to contractor story
d. Influence has everything to do with trust. Without trust who will follow?
Integrity (personal decisions)
Trust (must be earned)
Lack of Integrity Mistrust
5. Integrity has high influence value
a. Employers look for people of integrity for promotion.
b. Pastor looks for the faithful. You say you will do it, then do it.
c. I place a high value on those that do what they say they will do.
6. Integrity facilitates higher standards
a. Everyone is doing it
7. Integrity results in a solid reputation, not just image.
a. Image is what people think we are
b. Integrity is what we really are
c. Three C’s
i. Consistency
1. Are you the same no matter who you are with?
ii. Choices
1. Do you make decisions that are best for others when another choice would benefit you?
iii. Credit
1. Do you give others credit for contributions to your success?
8. Integrity means living it myself before leading others
a. “in quality control we are not concerned about the product. We are concerned about the process. If the process is right, the product is guaranteed” Integrity guarantees credibility
9. Integrity helps a leader be credible, not just clever.
a. You can schmooze your way through life. Eventually you will fail. Integrity does not remove failure but it is a requirement for success!!
b. Do not make something seem more important than it really is. i.e. Do not twist the facts to make something seem better than it really is. Pastors sometimes do this to push an agenda through the board or make people give emotionally.
10. Integrity is a hard-won achievement
a. It involves self-discipline, identity, dependence on the prophetic to be what you are not yet.
11. Finally Brethren, Personal Integrity leads to corporate integrity
a. Story of Galto’s falling on my steps.
Compromise slices off a whole life
Abraham and Abimelech. 1st time integrity is mentioned. A man of the covenant doesn’t act with integrity but Abimelech does act with integrity.
Partial truth. Sarah was sister.
Integrity is the fuel to compete against the world.
Integrity is challenge behind closed doors.
A connecting point – internet porn
Blood needs to wash the mind.
I kings 9:4 Walk in integrity of heart as David Walked
Stand on the beach to ankles. Sand gets washed out and put on top.
Tide of the world will take you down.
Self Search:
Look at major areas of your life. Where does your word not line up with your actions.
Where have you cut corners.
Where have you let people down.
Where have you slacked
- Write down every instance you can recall from the past two months.
- Look for patterns
- Face the music
i. Apologize
ii. Make restitution
iii. Fix relationships
- Rebuild
i. Recreate your future
A man took his daughter to a carnival, and she immediately ran over to a booth and asked for cotton candy. As the attendant handed her a huge ball of it, the father asked, “Sweetheart, are you sure you can eat all that?” “Don’t worry, Dad,” she answered, “I’m a lot bigger on the inside than on the outside.”
Character is being bigger on the inside.