B.A.S.I.C. Training

Defining Integrity An undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values. Incorruptibility Soundness (wellness) Completeness HONESTY

The world little values integrity today. The world little values integrity today. We often find people praised for dishonesty, lying, cheating, fraud, stealing – the values of those lacking integrity. We often find people praised for dishonesty, lying, cheating, fraud, stealing – the values of those lacking integrity. God’s people are to be people of integrity! God’s people are to be people of integrity!

How Do We Illustrate Integrity? Proverbs 10:9 -- The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. Integrity is the difference between taking the “easy” path and taking the “honest” path.

Proverbs 11:3 -- The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Integrity is the difference between single- minded devotion to what is right, good and sound and choosing what is deceptive, dishonest or “shady”. If you will cheat on a test it is within you to rob from a bank or murder a fellow human being.

Illustration: Finding a fat wallet What do you do? Finders keepers? Losers weepers? Is this truly integrity? JOKE – A person finds a wallet full of money in the church parking lot. What should he do?

Sometimes integrity can be quite painful:

The Bible Speaks On Integrity Jesus was recognized even by His enemies for His integrity: Matthew 22:16 -- Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.

Our preaching and teaching is to be done with integrity (soundness) Titus 2: In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

We are to be honest in all our business matters: Leviticus 19: 'Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

If we are dishonest in a little, we will be dishonest in much: Luke 16: "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”

Job – Integrity Personified! An account where genuine integrity can be examined: Job 1:1, 8 -- …This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil…. Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

Job 2:3 -- The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still (A)holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause." Even after the loss of all he had, Job remained a man of integrity.

Job 2:9 -- Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job’s wife did not share his integrity. When times got hard, she turned against God and suggested Job do so as well.

Job 27: "Far be it from me that I should declare you right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go. My heart does not reproach any of my days.” Even when his trusted friends and counselors turned against him, Job did not surrender his integrity.

In wealth and poverty, peace and adversity, health and illness, befriended and friendless – day after weary day – Job maintained his integrity. Nothing and nobody could cause Job to turn his love and devotion away from God. That is true integrity. What place does God and His will have in your life?