Integrity

by Jeremy McKeen

Life is made up of more little decisions than seemingly big and important ones. In fact, it’s the little things that can make a huge difference. Solomon taught that, “A bribe can corrupt the heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:7). And notice, he doesn’t say that a corrupt heart will take a bribe (although that’s typically true), he says that a bribe can corrupt the heart. One small compromise can eat away at a persons integrity until before they know it they are doing things they never thought they’d do. 

Like a Virus 

Think of dishonesty and compromise like a virus in a computer. One small virus can begin to eat away at the opperating system and can corrupt many files. And how does a virus come in … it doesn’t say, “Hello, I’m a virus!” No, it comes in as game or as a reward … “you just one 10,000 dollars!” It comes in just like a Trojan Horse. A bribe or an opportunity to lie is a virus disguised as a gift, a virus of the heart that can eat away at a person’s integrity. 

A Whole Person 
Integrity comes from the latin root word integer, which in mathematics is a whole number. It’s not divided. It’s not a fraction. A person of integrity is a whole person. They’re the same with one group of people or in one situation as they are in another. They don’t have a self here and another self over there. They are honest with their weaknesses and failures. They’re not living a lie. In fact, one of the things that makes them a person of integrity is that they’re transparent about the places in their life where they struggle. 

Remember that any form of dishonesty or taking any form of a bribe – cheating on a test to get a better grade, embellishing a story to be liked, exaggerating on a resume to get a job, hiding the truth from those who are close to you; it’s just not worth it. It’s a virus that unless dealt with eventually corrupts. It’s better to tell the truth than live a lie. Let the world keep their bribes, let us keep our integrity.