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The Importance Of Integrity

Honesty must be woven into the fabric of our character if we are to have an effective influence for Christ. Even the secular world recognizes the importance of integrity (1 Peter 2:12).

There was once a promising young man who applied for a job at a bank. He was one of several applicants, but the president was especially impressed by the young man’s credentials. Before hiring him, the president invited the man to lunch with several of the bank executives.

As the group went through the cafeteria line, the young man put two pats of butter on his tray and slipped them beneath the outer rim of his plate so the cashier wouldn’t see them. The company president, who was right behind him, observed his actions. He thought, “If this fellow would be dishonest with two pats of butter, how could he be trusted at a teller’s window?” Right there the president decided not to hire him.

Deception takes many forms, whether an outright verbal lie, or the cover-up of two pats of butter, which in this case amounted to stealing. The apostle Paul admonishes us, “…. putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour (Ephesians 4:25 KJV; cf. Zechariah 8:14-17).

Let’s remember that a person of integrity has nothing to hide.