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Proverbs on Integrity
September 20th, 2011Proverbs 19:22 - Poor person is better than a liar
Proverbs 20:17 - Gains by fraud ends up being worthless
The 1996 New York Times had a story on a golfer named Jeff Sluman.
- Jeff was playing in the Bay Hill Invitational and he hit his ball in the water.
- He then took a drop (drop your ball near the place it went in the water) and he added a penalty stroke
- During the night he began to question whether his drop was legal or illegal.
- He couldn’t sleep that night and the next morning called the golfing officials and told them what happen.
- Before the officials even made a decision, Jeff disqualified himself.
- Jeff said, “I’m not sure if what I did was right, and if I’m not sure then I couldn’t live with myself and keep playing. What if I won? It would be a curse.”
Not many people today have the attitude of Jeff Sluman.
- In most sports today the rule is to see what you can get away with (as long as you don’t get caught then its O.K.)
- But for the person of integrity cheating/deceit is never okay (its never an option)
We live in a world of deceit
- Politicians break campaign promises continually
- Parents laugh at little “Billie” when he cheats at pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey)
- Businesses lie just to sale a product (on and on)
Dictionary defines integrity as = adherence to a moral or ethical code, soundness of moral character
When someone is a person of integrity he/she is someone that has wholeness about him either.
- Many people in the world today are two-faced (their life doesn’t match their doctrine)
Why do we lose our integrity?
- Peer Pressure - Matthew 27:19-24
- Pilate lacked integrity, he made decisions based on what other people thought and said.
- He didn’t want to take responsibility
- Pride - Exodus 8:8-15
- Pharaoh wanted to be in control and not take advice from others
- In the end Pharaoh’s pride led to his firstborn son dieing (all the 1st born sons of Egypt)
Examples of great integrity.
- Joseph - Genesis 39:8-10
- Joseph did not give into the impure temptations that were put before him.
- He honored God with his purity and he honored his master
- Jesus - Matthew 26:57-60
- They couldn’t find anything against Jesus (false witnesses came forward “people started lying” but they didn’t make sense either)
- Mark 7:36-37 - Jesus did everything well (integrity)
Today we need to be examples of men/women of integrity. - Proverbs gives us a lot lessons on integrity
#1. Integrity last forever
Proverbs 12:19 - Truthful lips endure forever
Integrity last forever (people lie to escape something) but no one can run from the truth
- People lie to appear better than they are
- When we lie we feel clever and in control but one lie leads to other lies (then were like a dog chasing its tail)
- Many times people lie and may not ever be discovered but remember no one can fool God
Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Whenever we lie we ruin a part of our character.
- The more we lie the easier it becomes thus it eventually becomes our nature.
- You may escape the lie but you can not escape how it changes your character
Proverbs 28:13 - He who conceals his sins does not prosper
Men and take many things away from us but no one can take our integrity (its our choice).
#2. Integrity pleases God
Proverbs 12:22
- The Lord delights in men who are truthful
God hates lies and loves the truth. God has never lied.
- Lying is against God’s nature (character)
- His enemy (Satan) is the Father of lies (John 8:44)
Lies are apart of Satan’s character (its his weapon)
- When we lie we are using Satan’s weapons
- When we decide to tell the truth over lies we are choosing God over Satan
Choose to please God (tell the truth)
#3. Deception (lies) end in destruction
Proverbs 17:20 - A man of perverse heart does not prosper
Proverbs 19:5 - A false witness will not go unpunished
At some point our lies will find us out, it might not happen in this life but it will happen. - 1 Timothy 5:24-25
Acts 5 - Ananias and Sapphira lied not only to God but to the people (church)
Lessons:
- We should never make pack (agreement) to conceal the truth
- We should strive to please God (speak the truth) not Satan (lie)
- If you tell the truth you don’t have to have a good memory (lies create more lies)