In our daily bread of April 15,1998, Henry G. Bosch told a story about integrity and it struck me: "As a schoolboy, I worked with my father during the summer months. Each morning we stopped to pick up the early edition of the newspaper at a small grocery store. One morning when we got to work, my father found that by mistake he had taken two newspapers instead of one. He first thought of paying the man the extra price the next morning, but then after a moment’s consideration he said, “I had better go back with this paper. I don’t want the man at the store to think I’m dishonest.”

He got in his car, drove back to the store, and returned the paper. About a week later, someone stole money from the grocery store. When police pinpointed the time it occurred, the grocer remembered only two people being in the store at the time—and one was my father. The grocer immediately dismissed my father as a suspect, saying, “That man is really honest. He came all the way back here just to return a newspaper he took by mistake.”

The police then focused their investigation on the other man, who soon made a full confession. My father’s honesty made a big impression on that non-Christian storeowner, and on me."

What is integrity? It is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It is doing the right thing behind closed doors when no one sees you.

This value is priceless and golden. Today, the world, church and the society is in dire need of men with integrity. I heard from fathers in the faith that in time past,  company owners advertise  vacancies with preference for Christians because they believed that most Christians can be trusted with money. Today, the story is not the same.

There are Christians who steal and embezzle church funds right in the church. What do you think they will do with public funds? Your guess is as good as mine. Unfortunately, I have interacted with unbelievers who are honest and straightforward. Their word is their bond but so many believers are found wanting here.

No matter how much we claim to be the righteousness of God in Christ, speak in tongues and be committed to the work of the Lord, If integrity is lacking, our Christianity is worthless to the world around us.  

Why should we use an unbeliever to replace a believer because the later lacked integrity? It shouldn't be. I have listened to several believers who told me they prefer to deal with unbelievers in business because a number of church folks lack integrity. That should not be said about you, come out and don't be counted among people with such record.

Talking about David's leadership, Psalm78:72 says, "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them." If you're privileged to lead, do not abuse the privilege of office to amass wealth unjustly. Be clean in your leadership. Don't use the power of office to deal with ladies. You know what I mean? Uphold the value of integrity.

"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."( Prov11:3).