LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks
uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not
backbite with his tongue; Nor does evil to his neighbour, nor does he take up a reproach
against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised. But he honours those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his
money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things
shall never be moved – Psalm 15 (New King James).
INTRODUCTION
In the past year, revelations of the absence of integrity have affected other arms of the public and private institutions and what many people keep asking is whether those who profess Christianity in these institutions are living by the principles of their faith. Psalm 15 has several criteria for assessing our character. Significantly, almost all the marks of integrity listed in Psalm 15 relate to workplace issues. The qualities mentioned in the same Psalm extend to personal issues of integrity and honesty, our relationships with others and the way we handle our money. Our worship of God should not only be in terms of our inward, personal needs but also in light of our outward, public responsibilities. After all, religion is a matter of character as well as conduct. Our walk must match our talk.
INVENTORY OF INTEGRITY
A person of Integrity is someone who:-
- WALKS UPRIGHTLY: – someone whose character is above reproach.
What about you? What is your basic ethical commitment? Are you out to honour the
Lord or to serve yourself? - WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS: – someone who does what is right all the time.
What is the end result of your work? Is your work self-serving or do you work to
promote good in the nation? Do you make your light shine where you have been put in
spite of difficulties and challenges or are you the complaining type, never satisfied with
what you are been given? - SPEAKS THE TRUTH: – someone for whom truth-telling is second-nature.
Are you in the habit of telling lies – what you consider to be “little white lies” when it is
necessary or convenient? Or do you speak the truth even when doing so is costly? - DOES NOT BACKBITE: – someone who does not slander others.
Do you tear down others behind their backs? Are you one of those who think that they
can progress by destroying tearing down others? Verbal murder is as serious as physical
murder.
- DOES NO EVIL TO A NEIGHBOUR: – someone who does not deliberately work against
his colleagues.
What is your policy on office politics? Do you do unto others what you would like done
to you? Or do you believe in “doing unto others before they do unto you”? - DOES NOT TAKE UP A REPROACH AGAINST A FRIEND: – someone who stands by those
he claims to be friends with.
What is the level of your loyalty? When people collude to bring down a colleague (even
when the person has done no wrong) do you jump on the bandwagon? Or do you seek
fair play and offer support to the one who is being unjustly treated. - HONOURS THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD NOT THE UNGODLY: – someone who takes
faith in the Lord seriously and shuns ungodly company.
What is the character of your best friends? What is their attitude towards God and the
things of the Lord? Do people know your godliness by the type of friends you have? - KEEPS HIS WORD EVEN IF IT IS COSTLY: – someone who keeps his promise whatever
the cost.
Do your family and friends consider you trustworthy and reliable? Do you keep your
word? Are you known as one whose words is his bond? Or do people always wonder
whether you will follow through on your promises? - DOES NOT PRACTICE USURY: – someone who does not take advantage of those who
requires their help
Do you make it harder or easier for those in need to gain the resources necessary to
support themselves? Or do you take advantage of the poor and to gain more profits? - Does Not Take Bribes: – someone who does not demand money to do the work for
which he is paid.
Is it said of you that under no circumstances will you compromise yourself by taking
bribes? Can people confidently say of you that you will never take bribes? Or do you
accept kickbacks because everybody does it?
SELF ANALYSIS
How do you stand in the light of this integrity inventory? It is said that reputation is what
you do when everybody is watching; character is what you do when no one is watching. Do
people perceive you as one who has a reputation for integrity when in truth it is all a façade
because behind the scenes you are always compromising? Daniel was different. We read in
Daniel 1:8: But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he
asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel and his three
friends made up their minds to stand for godly values even though they lived in the midst of
very ungodly they took a stand not to defile themselves.
RESOLVE TO DO THE RIGHT
This is the time in our nation’s history when we all need to reveal our true character. As
people of God, we have a great opportunity to influence those around us through our ethics
and morality in our workplaces. We must refuse to go along with what everybody is doing.
That is the real challenge of workplace ethics. Occasionally we may struggle to discern the
right from the wrong but most of the time, we will have to summon the conviction and the
courage to do what we know is right. In the final analysis the truth we know in our hearts –
the truth based on Biblical principles – is what we need to do or not do. Like Daniel and his
friends, we can settle in our hearts to do what is right and carry out our plans with tough-
minded resolve.
As we face ethical choices in our workplaces, we can choose to stand for the right. It may
be costly, but God will give us the strength to handle whatever consequences come our
way. Scripture never encourages us to close our eyes to wrongdoing.
Instead, we are to “hate what is wrong and stand on the side of the good” – Romans 12:9 (New LivingTranslation). This may involve speaking out publicly about hidden wrongs with which we are familiar. We need not be afraid in such circumstances for it is better to pursue justice even if it means “blowing the whistle” on some people.
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave
us eternal encouragement and good a hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in
every good deed and word – 2 Thess. 2: 16-17.
Stay blessed!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0302-772013 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org
