The Price Tag of Integrity

The definition of integrity, according to dictionary.com is the “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.”  There shouldn’t be any amount of fame, fortune, or status that would cause you to compromise your integrity.  Almost daily we are bombarded with headlines of someone’s dishonesty and subsequent fall from grace.

In our culture, it is perfectly acceptable to cheat, and in some cases it’s even encouraged. Things range from pilfering supplies at work to claiming other people’s children on tax returns. Cheating has been so integrated into our society that it seldom surprises anyone that a child lied about his/her age to get a social media account or free meal at a restaurant. Athletes are encouraged to enhance their performance through whatever means necessary, but then are ostracized and rebuked when they get caught.

The understanding is that everyone does it, so it’s okay as long as you don’t get caught. My friends, it simply is not true. The little fibs, the omissions, the hidden truths are just Satan’s way of leveraging your deliverance from sin. Don’t believe for a moment that he won’t slap you in the face with it when you least expect. Integrity is PRICELESS! Don’t sell your character short by lying, cheating, or stealing, no matter how insignificant it may seem. You answer to a higher authority than this world.

Ephesians 5:3 (NASB) But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;