A MAN AND HIS INTEGRITY

I.                    DEFINITION

Integrity – whole, sound, unimpaired, truthfulness, credibility!  It has to do with a man’s morals and ethics.   Proverbs 12:19,22, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”  “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”

It is what you are when you are alone.  What you are when no one is looking.

King David is an example. “And David shepherded them (Israel) with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them.” Psalm 78:72

II.                  IN YOUR WORSHIP

1.       Why worship?  It is God’s command! Man was made to worship God. “Jesus said to him, (Satan), ‘away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:10

 We are told to exalt and worship Him. Psalm 99:5,9.

2.       Who do you worship? Is God still searching for you?  “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23

3.       How do you worship? Not the style of worship but the attitude of you spirit. “God is Spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

Do you worship in a spirit of love, joy, thanksgiving, humility, holiness, awe and respect? Do we still fear God?

Do you rejoice in your worship? “For it is we who are the circumcision, we

who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put

no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3

4.       When do you worship? On the first day of the week? Why worship on Sunday, the first day of the week? When we worship on Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb! “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” Matthew 28:1

Paul preached on the first day of the week. “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.” Acts 20:7

But we should worship every day, every where and any time.

5.       Where do you worship?  In the house of God?  “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1

6.       Are you neglecting worship? Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to give up meeting together for worship.

            7.    Is your temple clean? “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that

             God’s Spirit lives in you?” I Corinthians 3:16

III.                IN YOUR WALK (LIFE & BUSINESS)

1.      In your private life is your light shining? How brightly? “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 

   Don’t hide your God-given talent. Don’t waste it. Use it to the best of your ability for

   the glory of the Lord.

2.      In your business life is your light shining? Are you an honest businessman? “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Acts 6:3

  Notice – The first requirement was honesty. The business was the Lord’s business.

Are you honest in weights and measures? “Do not have two differing weights in your bag – one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house – one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” Deuteronomy 25:13-16.

Do you keep two sets of record books – one for the government and one for ‘your eyes only?’

“Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.” Jeremiah 17:11

Truth, honest and justice. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praise- worthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.

Here is something to think (pray) about. Do you pay your debts?  “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”  Romans 13:8

“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.” Psalm 37:21- 22

IV.               IN YOUR WORK

              There are three main attitudes about work: - Too casual – Too involved

               – Too meaningless.

A Biblical work ethic:

-          God worked – Genesis 2:2 – “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

-          Jesus worked – John 17:4 – “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

-          Man is to work – Genesis 2:15 – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Work is both creative and productive. Proverbs 6:6-11, “Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in the summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed men.” 

Man is to work properly and rest adequately.

          Six Scriptural Principles About Work.

1.      Our ability to work is part of what makes us human. Genesis 1:26 – God made man to rule over His creation.

        2.   Work is a means of service. – Matthew 20:28 – Christ came to serve

              not to be served. We should have a servant attitude. – Galatians 5:13 –

              We are to serve one another in love.

3.      The way we work shows others what we believe. Matthew 5:16 – Let

              others see your good works. We should have a keen sense of purpose

              about our work.

4.      God has called us to be co-workers with Him. – Luke 10:2 – We are the

      workers, the field and harvest are His.

     We are God’s fellow workers. – I Corinthians 3:9.  Pursue the work God

     has gifted you for.

    God chose: Adam – patriarchs –prophets – kings – apostles.

    He also chooses: Farmers – teachers – mechanics – drivers –

    painters – etc.

5.      Work is a form of worship. – Colossians 3:23 – What ever work we do

      should be done with all our heart for Him.

6.      When we work we function as providers. – I Timothy 5:8 – We are to

      provide for our family. We are to work and not steal. – Ephesians 4:28

           A Biblical man is a man of :

     Integrity – in daily life.

     Intimacy – with God and his wife.

     Identity – with Christ  and people.

     Influence – In the community and his family.