A matter of integrity
Do you know what the word integrity means? Very simply, the word means--the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards. Obviously the opposite of integrity is compromise. We live in a world that talks about integrity out of one side of its mouth while practicing compromise at every turn.
When thinking about integrity, there are qualities about it such as honesty, truthfulness, honor, reliability and uprightness which make it something to be ardently desired and strived for. While the world spends all of its time in search of riches, glory and power; we should devote ourselves to being people of our word, people who can be trusted to do what they commit themselves to do and people who think more about doing what is honest than what is self-serving.
Living out in the country we learned many years ago that the vast majority of independent contractors who claim they know how to fix something in reality don't know any more than I do. We also have found that the vast majority of these people never show up when they say they will and rarely stick with the job and finish it. They come, they start and they leave and of course never get paid. Whether laziness, drunkenness or stupidity; I cannot figure this mentality out.
Look at Ecclesiastes 5:5:
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay
If there were a verse in the Bible I wish was plastered on the walls of every business, government office, school, church and homeit is this one. It is truly a shame how many people find no harm in vowing to do or give something knowing full well they will never do or give it. It is truly a shame how many people look at commitments as nothing more than words instead of the contracts they really are.
Of course there would not be a 50% or higher divorce rate if people adhered to their vows. Of course there would be true justice meted out in Congress and in courts of law if people adhered to the vows they make to tell the truth and uphold the Constitution. Of course there would be far less stress in our lives if those who sign contracts to perform a job actually carried it out.
God does not think lightly of vows. He allows vows to be made, but He fully expects them to be carried out. As the verse above states; it is better not to make a vow than make it and not do it.
Way back in the 1960's I was a Boy Scout. Although I never made it to Eagle Scout, I did receive many merit badges and loved the experience. Among the things which have stuck with me all these many years is the Boy Scout Law:
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent.
When thinking about a subject such as integrity, the sad reality is that kids today are not taught what it means like they were many years ago. Due to political correctness, distractions and lack of being cool; the whole concept of scouting the values that program instilled into countless young men and women have diminished to the point the vast majority of kids do not learn that the very first aspect of the scout's law is to be trustworthy, which is to be a person of integrity.
It is truly a shame that so many of the young people today would rather cruise the malls and spend hours texting each other instead of learning about what it means to be a responsible citizen. Perhaps the apples have not fallen far from the trees when it comes to this subject.
 Creative Commons: Public Domain
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Author: blessings2you
Location: Warrenton Missouri USA
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Blog Entries: 822 (archive)
Blog Comments: 1355
god called me to serve him when i was 16 years old while on a church work trip in new mexico in 1969. in the 40 years since; i attended bible school/leadership training, been ordained to the christian ministry and worked full time for a non-denominational ministry for nearly ten...
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in 1969 god stepped in and transformed my life as a sixteen year old teenager. after a couple of years of intense emotional ups and downs, i decided i needed a firm foundation in my life that went beyond emotional experiences. it was the decision to become involved with a...
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