Integrity: the foundation of character

I would say that the opposite of integrity is hypocrisy.  Everyone is drawn to people of integrity and they avoid hypocrites. Yet, in my inner life I tend toward hypocrisy and find integrity a battle.  Integrity is not easy.  To shine a spotlight in my inner life is uncomfortable.  But it is only in this context that my character can grow, as I expose it to the reality and consequences of the real world.

The presence of God

I find that it's easier to confess things to God than it is to confess to other people. In a real sense, confessing to God and confessing to man are two different things.  Confessing to God is agreeing with Him about my sin, confessing to man includes divulging previously unknown information.  Since God has perfect standards it seems that the opposite would be true. You would think that others would be less critical of me since they likely struggle with the same things.   The only explanation is that I haven't fully accepted that fact that God is present. It seems to indicate that I have more fear of  man than God.   With man I may have to face near-term consequences for my confessed actions.  I have more fear of temporal earthy consequences that eternal consequences.  Perhaps I take God's grace for granted.  I need to internalize what "he will suffer loss" means in light of eternity.  If I can understand that, and live with the realization that God is present, it would make all the difference. 

What does it take?

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.   1 Corinthians 9:24

Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.
-Tom Landry

         I've never seen a half-hearted athlete excel and enjoy their sport.  Pouring yourself into something leads to both enjoyment and success. Championships last one year, or at the most, four.  World records last until someone else breaks them.  If an athlete will commit and exert themselves to the limit, how much more should I strive to discipline myself for the purpose if godliness, which rewards me from now to eternity!?   In a real sense, athletes spend their bodies in the pursuit of the goal.  I spend my life.
          In order to make it to the top, athletes have coaches.  No athlete has been successful without having a coach to make him do what he doesn't want to do in order to reach a goal that he's always wanted. As a follower of Christ I should not resent someone rebuking or correcting me.  I should invite it.
         If I live as if the Bible is true, then I discipline myself for my greater good.

Gratitude

I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


       "Be joyful always".   That is a command.  And God never commands us to do anything without giving us the ability to carry it out.  Being joyful is not a result of good circumstances.  It is closely linked to the next two phrases: pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.  All of these are supernatural actions that seem impossible at first glance.
          All three are disciplines.  "Train yourself to be godly".  Each is a decision.

The Joy of Integrity

It is an incredible feeling to know that you have nothing to hide. You sleep better at night, you have more fun at work and on vacation. You can look people in the eye and smile without flinching. Integrity is its own reward.

compromise

"When a company or an individual compromises one time, whether it's on price or principle, the next compromise is right around the corner. " -Zig Ziglar

The is no small compromise

Integrity Defined

Integrity is the state of being the same person inside and out. It involves being a whole person as apposed to a fractured one. If I have integrity, my values and actions are the same. It holds one's self to the same standards as It hold others. To quote Wikipedia: Integrity is constistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcome. At the other end of the spectrum is hypocrisy - which comes from the Greek, meaning "play-acting".