Checking Integrity

Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, honor, and honesty

Opposite: Devious, corruption, Deceitful

Mark 12:14 (AV)

14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Mark 12:14 (NIV)

14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?

Meaning: Speak the truth no matter what anyone thinks or says

Spiritual maturity is rooted in commitment.

Zacchaeus – Lk 19:1-9

- Went from one extreme for himself To the other for Chrisrt

- Integrity is built one choice at a time

- Living by integrity does not guarantee success.

Ted Williams was a baseball great of the 1950s. In 1959 when a pinched nerve in his neck caused his batting average to suffer badly, he was offered the highest salary in baseball history—$125,000. He sent the contract back to the Boston Red Sox and asked for the largest pay cut allowed, 25 percent.

"My feeling was that I was always treated fairly by the Red Sox when it came to contracts . . . now they were offering me a contract that I didn’t deserve." So Williams cut his salary by $31,250 – an enormous sum in 1`959

Williams’ integrity cost him money, but it also made him a legend

Movie “Courageous” has an example of integrity

Blessing Promised

Psalm 112:4–5 (NET)

4 In the darkness a light shines for the godly, for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just.

5 It goes well for the one who generously lends money, and conducts his business honestly.

Blessing Extends to His Family

Proverbs 20:7 (NET)

7 The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.

Receive Deep Inner Peace

Without integrity there is guilt

Proverbs 10:9 (ESV)

9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

With Integrity We Form Respect & Reputation

Proverbs 22:1 (ESV)

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV)

1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.

Hebrews 11:39 (ESV)

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

Captains of Two Sinking’s

Three years ago the world recognized a hero, Captain Sullenberger, (author of “Highest Duty”) landing a commercial airplane on the Hudson River. This week the world is drowning in tragedy and shock as the exact opposite continues to emerge from what appears to be foolish and harmful choices by a cruise ship captain.

On January 15, 2009, Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger safely guided all 155 passengers and crew aboard US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in the city’s frigid Hudson River. The Airbus A320′s twin engines had apparently shut down after sucking in a flock of birds.

Sullenberger walked the unflooded part of the passenger cabin twice to make sure everyone had evacuated before retrieving the plane's maintenance logbook and being the last to evacuate the aircraft

No one died

On January 13, 2012, the Captain Francesco Schettino made an unauthorized maneuver from the ship’s programmed course — apparently to show off the luxury liner to the island’s residents. The Costa Concordia, having more than 4,200 passengers and crew on board, slammed into the reef off the tiny island of Giglio.

The order to evacuate the ship was not given until 22:50 Captain was one of the first to abandon ship and had all ready left by 23:30

At 03:44, the air force officer reports that 40 to 50 people are still onboard. At 04:46, the evacuation is noted as being "complete"

As of Jan 25/12 16 dead, 16 missing

In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception “that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior.

1 Corinthians 6:19 (GW – God’s Word)

19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves.

You’re acquainted with house sitters. Not wanting to leave your house vacant, you ask someone to stay in your home until you return