WHOM HAVE I CHEATED? THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INTEGRITY
1 SAMUEL 12:1-5 1 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right.” 4 “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.” 5 Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is witness,” they said.
INTRODUCTION
One thing the world and church lack is more people of character and integrity. Character: The pattern of behavior displayed in individual situations. How you deal with those situations will cement your character. Crisis doesn’t necessarily make character, but it does reveal it. Integrity: When you commit yourself to make the right choice not out of expediency but because that is what has already been developed in you. The Hebrew for integrity means "completeness, whole, sound, without spot, blemish, unimpaired, upright, without deceit, guile or duplicity."
4 Things You Must Know About Character
1. Character Is More Than Talk. Anyone can say they have integrity but action is the true indicator. Your character determines who you are. Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.
2. Talent Is A Gift, But Character Is A Choice. A lot of things in our life that we have no control over – We don’t pick our parents, our upbringing, our talents, our IQ. But we do choose and create our character. Proverbs 3:31 Do not envy the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
3. Character Brings Lasting Success With People. People do not trust those who have flawed characters. Good character will open up doors for lasting relationships with those around you. 2 Corinthians 6:3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
SOME THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER
1. Integrity Makes Us Walk Before Or Lives For The Lord, Not Men. Proverbs 16:7-8: When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
2. Integrity Keeps Us On The Straight Path. Proverbs 11:5 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
3. Integrity Makes God To Delight In His People. Proverbs 11:20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
4. Integrity Challenges Our Idea Of Success. Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked [perverse] though he be rich.
5. Integrity Brings Blessings To Our Offsprings. Proverbs 20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity - how blessed are his sons after him.
6. Integrity Will Make Violent Men To Hate You. Proverbs 29:10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, but the upright are concerned for his life.
OTHER MEN OF INTEGRITY IN THE BIBLE
Samuel’s Life Is Summarized In This Passage. He puts himself on trial and is found innocent. He put the nation of Israel on trial and they were found guilty. Everyday children of God are put on trial by the choices we make. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Every child of god is on trial. The claim that Samuel makes, even Saul, David and Solomon would not be able to make such claims. He is saying: “My hands are clean.” The kinds of choices governments make and the church is powerless to fight against is because the church has lost integrity. Once we were the moral conscience of the world. Not anymore. In the church you find crooks, thieves, scandals, perverts, etc. Where are the Daniels?
1. Joseph: Had total command in the house even as a slave. He was tested with authority, money, power, women and he passed all.
2. Daniel: He was advisor to three kings and would tell them the way it was with wisdom for them to repent. He despised money even when he was to be bribed by Belshazzar regarding the handwriting on the wall. He still prayed when prayer was outlawed.
3. Job: Everything was taken from him, but he stuck to his morals. His wealth, power, influence, money, children were taken. His wife said curse God and die. He stated, even if God kills me, I will not deny him. God is looking for men and women like him.
THE GREATNESS OF SAMUEL
We Often Wonder About The Childhood Of Great People. In fact, we have little information about the early years of most of the people mentioned in the bible. How much do we know about Elijah, Joshua, Elisha, Paul, Peter, etc.? But we know about Samuel because he is what prayer gave birth to. The name Samuel comes from the Hebrew word “asked of God.” Like Moses, Samuel was called to fill many roles: judge, priest, prophet, counselor and God’s man at a turning point in the history of Israel. Samuel was great:
1. He Was Consecrated To God By His Parents 1:24-28
2. He Had A Wonderful Childhood – 2:18-21 Like That Of Christ.
3. He Heard God’s Voice In His Boyhood – 3:1-18
4. He Was The Last And Most Effective Of Israel’s Judges.
5. He Was An Upright Judge. 1 Samuel 12:3-4
6. He Assisted In The Transition Of Israel From Loosely Governed Tribes To Monarchy.
7. He Was Courageous 13:13, 15:16-29
8. He Anointed The First Two Kings Of Israel – Saul and David.
9. He Was A Man Of Prayer – an intercessor 7:5-8, 8:6, 12:17, 15:11
10. He was an educator
11. He Was An Inspired Prophet – 3:19, 21, 8:22
12. A Circuit Prophet – 7:16
13. His weakness is inability to influence his sons to Godly living but he tried his best.
14. He Is Listed In The Hall Of Faith In Hebrews 11.
But Unlike Saul: I have played the fool. Or Judas: I have betrayed innocent blood. Or Demas: I have forsaken Paul. Or Diotrephes who loved power. Samuel is a man of God. Not perfect. His children may have had a different perspective of him (an impractical father). His enemies had a different perspective of him – Agag (a bloody priest). Saul had a different perspective of him (uncompromising old man). The sons of Jesse had a different perspective of him (a confused & partial prophet). The people saw him as unyielding. But none of them had a tangible accusation against Samuel.
What Is Your Life Like Before People. Many people say “I don’t care what people say about me.” That is when you are doing the right. But one of the qualities of a Christian is what people outside of church think about you. Looking at Samuel’s statement, we see areas of his life that were open. Saul the new leader will face temptations to use his position to amass wealth or to take advantage of his followers by taking their properties for his personal use. Remember that the priesthood was corrupt and Eli was a good man but his sons were very corrupt. Young Samuel was introduced to such an environment but he passed the test.
1. Samuel would act with integrity in the financial area. Whose ox have I taken?
2. In the area of labor and employment. Whose donkey have I taken?
3. In the area of personal interactions. Whom have I defrauded?.
4. In the area of justice and equity. Where many have fallen in favoritism and tribalism.
5. In the area of discontent with what he had. Samuel had never accepted a bride.
6. In the area of credit and debt: he owed no one, if so, he would restore more.
Even the people of Israel testified that Samuel had lived a life of integrity and transparent holiness. His preaching had taken on flesh. No Christian life can be more effective than this. Samuel’s example here might have even influenced Paul years later when he issued similar challenges to the church (Acts 20:33). Samuel called on God to witness between he and the people. If you were to call on God to witness, what will he say? Watch This: God bore witness to Samuel integrity by responding to Samuel’s prayer by sending thunder and rain which was most usual at harvest time (12:16-18).
CONCLUSION
Qualifications Of The Christian Or Christian Leader (J. Oswald Sanders)
1. Social Qualifications: Regarding relationships Inside The Church, detractors should have no ground to stand on to accuse him. Any charge against him would be found to be false. Outside The Church, the Christian must enjoy a good reputation. Outsiders may criticize and refuse what the Christians have but they admire high ideals. Our lives among them command respect.
2. Moral Qualifications: A person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. Christian morals are under constant attack and none of them is as prominent as sexual practices. He must also be temperate, not addicted to alcohol, or any other indulgence that undermines public witness.
3. Mental Qualifications: You must have sound judgment meaning you must apply sound judgment to pressurizing and nonpressurizing situations. Exhibit self-discipline at all times. Be respectable. Able to teach meaning that you must be growing.
4. Personality Qualifications: If you would rather pick a fight than solve a problem, you are not ready for growth. Don’t be a lover of controversy. Show hospitality. Covetousness and the love of money must not be a part of the Christian.
5. Domestic Qualifications: The Christian who is married or single and has children must endeavor to control them. There must be support of the ministry by the spouse.
5 Keys to Success
1. Remember And Review The Past And Learn From Your Mistakes And Victories.
2. Evaluate Your Priorities, Take Stock And Look Inward.
3. Accept Full Responsibility For Your Life.
4. Change The Things In Your Life That Need To Be Changed.
5. Trust In The Lord With All Of Your Heart.
