INTEGRITY The proof of human credibility is integrity. To be a credible person, one must be a person of unquestionable character. Integrity is defined as strength and firmness of character; utter sincerity and honesty. A man of integrity is disciplined, orderly, faithful and honest in his dealings. A man of integrity is plain and straight-forward; he is fair and just; he does not cheat; he doesn’t pretend either; he says his mind, but never in a rude way; he keeps his word; he performs his assigned tasks faithfully, even when no one is watching; he works with little or no supervision, but never cuts corners; he does not do “eye service” and does not seek to reap where he has not sown. Rather, he does his work well, within the limits of his knowledge and ability, and patiently awaits his due reward, which must definitely come to him when the season is due. That is the way that God has ordained it. Often times, there is the temptation to take a short cut, but that will hardly get one to the original destination. Those who follow short-cuts often get lost or are cut short along the way. They hardly reach their goal. Their end is doom. I am told that stupendous wealth mostly wears the finger-print of crime. That I have no way to justify or disprove; but what use is such wealth which leaves a sour taste in the mouth? It has no use at all! Perhaps, there is no other field of endeavour where the demand for integrity is higher than is required from those of us who bear the burden of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ among the nations; a city on a hill is not hidden! We are letters written without ink, which even the blind can read. At the mouth of two or more witnesses, every matter is established. I have three credible witnesses to testify to this truth. My first witness is John the Baptist, the jungle prophet. He shunned the trappings of material acquisitions altogether, and yet Jesus described him as the greatest saint and prophet of the Old Testament era. As he preached repentance and baptized the multitude at the River Jordan, he said to the people, especially those who were known to practise extortion, “Be content with your wages; … Bear fruit in keeping with repentance; otherwise, the axe is already laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit (will be) cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3: 8 – 14). My second witness is Samuel, the man whose testimony as a prophet and judge in Israel has remained a reference point for good. Towards the end of his ministry, Samuel called the whole nation of Israel together in one place. Then, he mounted the soap box and addressed them as follows: “I am now old and gray-headed... I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” The whole nation chorused together, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.” Samuel said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand”. They replied, “That is true; He is witness” (I Sam. 12: 2- 5). So, Samuel discharged himself creditably before the nations of Israel; he passed the test of integrity. My third and final witness is Paul, the Apostle, who authored two-thirds of the New Testament Epistles. Of himself he said, “What things were gain to me, these I counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but the righteousness which is by from God by faith” (Phil. 3: 7 – 10). Again he said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4: 11 -13). Elsewhere, he states, “I covet no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands (of mine) have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.” (Acts 20: 33 -35) Paul concludes by giving us a recipe for achieving integrity in our calling and conduct as ministers of the gospel and disciples of Jesus Christ. “Make it your ambition,” he says, “to lead a quiet life; to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. By so doing, you daily conduct will win the respect and approval of unbelievers. Also, you will not lack the resources to pay your bills” (I Thess. 4: 11 – 12). I rest my case!
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 23:15:29 +0000
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