This morning we’re going to be talking about integrity and to help us get started thinking about integrity we have a short clip.

(Video:  Integrity)

Years ago I read about a man - down in Long Beach - who had gone into a Church’s Fried Chicken.  Anybody ever eat at a Church’s Fried Chicken?  He’d gone in to get some chicken for himself and the lady he was with.  When they got to the place where they were going to have a picnic - when they opened the box of chicken - instead of chicken they found a huge wad of cash - inside the chicken box.

Apparently the restaurant had been robbed so many times that the manager had started putting the money in a chicken box instead of the safe and he’d accidentally given this couple the box with the money in it.

For the man and this women it’s a moment of truth - integrity.  To keep the cash or not keep the cash.  To their credit - the man and this woman take the money back to Church’s and give it back to the manager.  The manager is relieved - excited - grateful.  Who wouldn’t be?

The manager wants to call the TV stations - the newspapers.  He tells this guy:  “You’ve got to be the most honesty guy in Long Beach.”    

The man begs him not to make a fuss and finally confesses, “I’m married and this lady isn’t my wife.” (1)

How many of you have heard that before?  Yeah its an oldie.  But its a goodie.  It really points out where people are at.

Last week I was listening to KCBS and they were interviewing a guy who - on his Facebook page - this guy had changed his birthday 3 times in one month.  Each time he put up a new birth date Facebook notified all his friends that that date was his birthday.  Each time Facebook posted a new “its so and so’s birthday” this guy got tons of “Happy Birthday” posts from people that apparently didn’t remember or realize or care that that he’d already had a birthday that month.

“Its so and so’s birthday so I’ll send him a happy birthday - not that it really matters that much to me.”

Fool me once shame on you.  Fool me twice shame on me.

Whatever people post on Facebook is what we want people to think about ourselves.  An image - not necessarily the substance of what our lives are really like - down deep at the core of who we are.  That is hugely reflective of our society. 

Integrity is a commitment to be who we say we are - our whole life.  What you see is what you get.

We live in a society that lacks integrity.  Would you agree with that?  What you see is - way too often - what you see is not what you get.  Surface without substance.  Image without integrity.

We live in a society which is increasingly cynical - where most people simply don’t trust each other - for pretty good reasons.  Would you agree with that?

Jurors don’t trust the testimony of witnesses.  Parents doubt their children - who’ve learned well from their mentors.  Employers and employees don’t trust each other.  Just about everything a politician says is doubted.  Profit is the bottom line - my profit.  What matters is me, myself, and I - buyer beware.  Handshakes aren’t good enough.  It seems like everyone is conning everyone else.  We’re drowning in fine print.

Image without integrity.  People are afraid.  Life lacks stability.  How are we suppose to move through life with all that?

Integrity - of the type that springs from the heart of a man or woman of God - is almost extinct - and yet desperately needed in this world.  Our world - our community - our families - even the church - is desperate for men and women of integrity who will walk with God and point the way for others.

Are you a person of integrity?

Psalm 15 - starting at verse 1:  O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?  Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

Those are great questions.  Aren’t they.  Who are God’s people… really?

To sojourn in God’s tent has the idea a tent in the wilderness.  Think nomads in the desert.  A stranger comes and is welcomed as a member of the family - given shelter - safety - food - desert hospitality.  The amazing warmth of relationship that develops - that deepens - as we share meals and conversation and time together.

This is God’s tent.  Think tabernacle - God’s dwelling place in the desert.

What kind of person enjoys that kind of warmth of relationship with God?

Dwelling on God’s holy hill is all about Jerusalem - the Temple - a patch of land that is set apart solely for God.  Its sacred.  To dwell there - to be permitted to remain there - means coming before the awesomeness - the majesty - the astounding incredibleness of the Sovereign Almighty Holy God of Creation. 

What kind of person has a right to come before the holy God and worship Him?  And not get toasted in judgment?

There are a ton of people who will claim that character of intimacy with God.  But when it gets down to it in reality they lack the integrity of what it really means to be God’s people.

Who are God’s people…  really?  What does it mean to be a Godly man or Godly women of integrity?

The answer comes in verses 2 to 5.  9 brief descriptions of what Godly integrity looks like.  Look with me at verse 2.  Let’s read these verses and then we’ll come back and focus on those 9 descriptions.

Psalm 15 - verse 2:  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

Description of Integrity #1:  Walks Blamelessly.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Walks blamelessly.”  Think consistent.

Who knows who this is?  Ray Floyd.  Amazing golfer.  Won numerous tournaments.  Retired in 2010.

There’s a story told about when Ray Floyd - Ray was getting ready to tap in a routine 9-inch putt when he saw the ball move ever so slightly.  According to the rule book, if the ball moves that way the golfer has to take a penalty stroke.

Ponder that.  Floyd was among the leaders in a tournament offering a top prize of $108,000.  To acknowledge that the ball moved could mean he would lose his chance for big money.  No one knew the ball had moved - and no one would ever know - he could just tap it in for his par.

Most of us would have trouble with that kind of decision just playing miniature golf.

Ray Floyd assessed himself a penalty stroke and wound up with a bogey on the hole.

The true test of our character is who we are when - what?  no one’s looking. 

Blameless isn’t perfect.  We’d all fail if that was what was being said here.  Blameless is a from the heart desire to consistently live out our relationship with God.  Who we are at work and at church and at home and at school and when no one’s looking - what we say - the words we use - how we act.  Its all the same whether or not anyone else notices.

If someone were to poke around in the depths of our hearts what would they find?  Poking around in our thought life - what we let our eyes dwell on - what we focus our attention on.  Most of us would cringe at that kind of inspection.

Blameless seeks out God’s inspection of our heart.  Repentance happens.  Commitment is daily.  Sin is dealt with - honestly - openly.  What falls short of what God desires for us is surrendered to God - opened up to God - for Him to bring change in our lives.  For God to develop true consistent Godly character within us.

People may accuse us of all kinds of stuff - and they will.  But the accusations don’t stick.  They can’t.  Because we’re blameless.  Let God deal with our heart and people’s issues are with God not us.

Description of Integrity #2:  Does What Is Right.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Does what is right.” 

Two Saturdays ago I was down at Biola with Andrew at a Bar-B-Que dinner for parents and students.  There were at least 3,000 people being served this dinner - a huge crowd.  We’d come up from the dorms so that when we got to the line of people waiting to eat we actually - not by intention - but we arrived at the front of the line - right by the gate where they were admitting people and handing out plates.

We could have just slipped in and probably it wouldn’t have been a problem.  No one would have really noticed.  Looking at the line - the end was someplace in downtown LA.  They could have had one of those signs “The Wait Time From Here Is Six Days.”

There was a brief moment when we thought about it.  Well I did anyway.  I don’t think anyone would have said anything.  Tough luck to all the suckers that had to wait.

Ever been in a situation like that?

Doing what’s right has to do with living justly - morally - ethically in our relationship with others.  If we’re going to seek to consistently live rightly in our relationship with God were going to seek to consistently live by that same kind of rightness in our relationship with others.

Description of Integrity #3:  Speaks Truth In His Heart.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Speaks truth in his heart.”

Serving God with our time, money, and abilities - all that is an option.  Being here for worship really isn’t all that important.  If you have something better to do - a family obligation - some sports event to watch - whatever - its okay.  And sin.  Well, let’s not get hung up on technicalities.  Just avoid the major ones.  In fact, prayer - reading your Bible - hey, not everyone has the kind of time they used to.  God’ll understand.  Just say you believe and its okay.

We’d never tolerate that being taught from the music stand.  Right?  But its concerning how many Christians seem to believe all that.  We say we don’t believe it.  But people live pretty consistent with what they believe. 

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord.’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 7:21)

Sometimes we think we’re covering all that up pretty well.  We’re saying all the right Christian things - giving all the right answers.  But deep down we know there’s an inconsistency.  Push comes to shove we’re not as all surrendered to God as we’d like other people to think we are.  That whole way of the cross - give up your life - righteous living thing is just a tad out there.

God knows when what’s coming out of our mouth doesn’t match up with what’s going on in our heart.  God knows.  We know.  In reality - other people are more clued in than we’d like to think.

So if we want to be people of integrity let’s be honest - truthful - about what’s in our hearts.  If there’s an inconsistency let’s let God fix it.

Maybe right now - a short prayer to God - “God.  I’m struggling with this.  But, I’m going to take a step of faith here.  I’ve been holding back on this - name it - and I’m giving it to you.  Nothing held back.  No exceptions to my commitment.” 

Description of Integrity #4:  Does Not Slander With His Tongue.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Does not slander with his tongue.”

In Hebrew the word “slander” has the idea of a spy.  Someone who wanders around looking for weakness to exploit.  Gathering information that can be used against an enemy.

If you’ve ever begun a conversation with, “I probably shouldn’t tell you this…”  Then you’ve probably got what slander is all about.  Its using  information to our advantage at the expense of someone else.  Slander is using information to our advantage at the expense of someone else.

Using words to do evil - to harm our neighbor.

Jesus - the parable of The Good Samaritan defined our neighbor as basically everyone.  (Luke 10:25-37)  What’s being written about here is integral to who we are as a congregation and our witness in this community.

James writes that our tongues are small but powerful.  They’re like rudders on a ship.  Our words can change the course of our lives. (James 3:1-5)  Good or bad.

Tragic - isn’t it?  How we Christians have a reputation for shredding each other with our words?  Maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of that.    Tragic how what comes out of our mouths has driven so many away from Jesus?  Isn’t it really hard to love someone with the love of Jesus when we’re talking about them behind their back?

A person of Godly integrity is consistently going to be using his or her tongue to build people up - to encourage them - to demonstrate Jesus love - using what comes out of our mouths as an opportunity to love people and move them towards Jesus.

Description #5:  Takes Up No Reproach Against A Friend.  Let’s repeat that.  “Takes up no reproach against a friend.”

Have you ever gotten one of those chain emails.  Some warm fuzzy story with a spiritual message.  At the bottom it says something like, “If you love Jesus pass this on.”  Like if we don’t pass it on were some pagan sinner destined for hell.  Ever gotten one of those?

Reproach is kind of like that.  Its gossip - rumors - words aimed at causing pain.  Some kind of vicious slur - an unfair criticism - blame - verbal abuse.  In some sick way it makes us feel better about ourselves - less focused on our faults - more a part of the crowd - if were listening to all that and we’re part of passing it on.  Even if people we know are getting hurt.

How can we say we love someone - a neighbor - a friend - someone that we closely and regularly spend time with - if we’re participating in what’s hurting them?  Even if they don’t know it.

A person of Godly integrity isn’t going to “take up” reproach.  Which means they’re not going to listen to it.  They’re certainly not going to forward it.  It gets deleted before it ever gets opened.  A Godly man or women of integrity is going to be more concerned with the pain their friend is feeling - emphasizing with their hurt - seeking to speak truth.

Description of Integrity #6:  Honors Those Who Fear The Lord.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Honors those who fear the Lord.” 

Put another way:  Who are your heroes?  Who are your role models?

Charles Barkley - the basketball player over there - Charles Barkley the now retired NBA player used to say quite often, “I am not a role model.”  While “Sir Charles” as he was called was a great basketball player - by the way he lived his life - some really messed up behavior - and the words he used - I’d agree.  He’s not a role model to follow.

The point isn’t that we should run in terror from the world.  But we need to use wisdom in what we expose ourselves to and what we let into our lives.  So many Christians spend hours and hours watching and digesting what’s ungodly - who we see on TV or the internet or listen to - in person or virtually - and then wonder why its so hard to follow after God.

Paul wrote:  “Don’t be fooled, Bad companions ruin good character.”  (1 Corinthians 15:33 GNB)

Given a choice - who’s a healthier role model - Oprah or Billy Graham?  Harry Potter or Hudson Taylor?

A person of Godly integrity is going to make choices to be influenced by persons of Godly integrity.  Are our role models worthy of emulating?  Of following?  Of imitating?  Do our role models honor God in how they live and speak? 

One last thought before we go on to #7 - If we want our children or grand children to move towards becoming people of Godly integrity we need to be wise in our choices of our own role models.

Description of Integrity #7:  Does Not Change.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Does not change.” 

Verse 4 says:  “who swears to his own hurt and does not change”  Who keeps his promises even when it hurts.

Booker T. Washington - in his book “Up From Slavery” tells about meeting and ex-slave from Virginia.

Washington writes, “I found that this man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased.

“Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there.  When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master some 300 dollars.  Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to this master, this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with interest, in his hands.

“In talking to me about this, the man told me that he knew that he did not have to pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had never broken.  He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise.” (2)

Some people go through life with a calculator.  Adding up the cost to themselves.  Whether they’ll show up or not or follow through on a commitment.  Maybe something better comes along.  Or they need more sleep.

The promises we make are a reflection of who we are.  A person of Godly integrity doesn’t renege on their promises just because things get hard - inconvenient - or circumstances change.  Do we stand by our words?  Regardless of what it costs us?

Description of Integrity #8:  Does Not Put Out His Money At Interest.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Does not put out his money at interest.”

For some of us just having money to loan would be a novel idea.

The idea here is loaning people money when we know that we’re ripping them off.  That we can get away with charging them outrageous amounts of interest.  That they may not be able to pay us back.  That we might be able to take them to cleaners to collect.

Sound familiar?  Kinda like the mortgage crisis?

Point being that a person of Godly integrity isn’t going to use their God given resources to rip off other people.  The opposite:  A person of Godly integrity is going to use their God given resources to move the kingdom forward - to impact lives with the love of God.

Description of Integrity #9:  Does Not Take A Bribe.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Does not take a bribe.”

Every man has his what?  Price.  People’s votes and opinions and loyalty and service and actions towards others can be bought if the price is high enough.

The people who survey these things asked a bunch of Americans, “What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?”  Interesting question.  Isn’t it?  If someone offered you $10,000,000 what would you be willing to do?

25% said they would be willing to abandon their entire family.

25% said they would abandon their church.

23% said they would become prostitutes for a week or more.

This one really bothers me:  3% said they would put their children up for adoption. (3)

A person of Godly integrity cannot be bought - at least by the temporal stuff of this world.  Why?  Because he or she knows that they’ve already be bought by the priceless shed blood of Jesus on the cross.  If our lives have already been purchased and are owned by God why would we ever sell them so cheaply to anyone else?

And yet it happens.

Not just with money - but peer approval - little favors - words of encouragement - from people we hang out with.  Blessings and gifts we receive from others.  Upgrades in our position and standing.  There are times when we ourselves are tempted to use our relationships and our resources to influence people to see things our way.

We need to be careful that we’re not allowing what is familiar and comfortable to us - what scratches where we itch - to influence us away from what God desires to do in us and through us.  Especially when it comes to our relationships with others - our God appointments and opportunities to demonstrate His love and to serve God and move His kingdom forward.

A person of Godly integrity is going to focus on what God wills - where God is leading - what is God’s best for others.   Not what benefits me.

Taking those 9 descriptions and putting them together what’s being described here ultimately boils down:

First:  Integrity towards God - which means that integrity starts at the core of who we are in our relationship with God.  At the core of who we are are we really who we say we are?  If not its time to get real with God.

Second:  Integrity towards others - if our heart is right with God that’s going to come out in how we treat other people - what we say and do and act - even when people aren’t looking.

Third:  Integrity whatever the cost - the goal isn’t what benefits us.  The goal is serving God - totally being available to God - to be used in demonstrating His love to others and helping them to come to Jesus.

The promise for a person who dwells intimately with God in Godly integrity is here at the end of Psalm 15 - at the end of verse 5 - read it with me:  He who does these things shall never be moved.

What does that mean - shall never be moved?  Never shaken?  Life comes with hard stuff.

Shaken yes.  But never upended - never toppled - never defeated.  It means standing on a solid foundation not just now - for a short time - but forever.

It means that God will hold you up.  Even if others try to tear you down - accuse of you all kinds of things - you will stand.  God will hold you up.

In the uncertainty - the instability - the cynicism of this world - that’s huge.  Live with Godly integrity and you shall never be moved.

Integrity - of the type that springs from the heart of a man or woman of God - is almost extinct - and yet desperately needed in this world.  Our world - our community - our families - even the church - is desperate for men and women of integrity who will walk with God and point the way for others.

Question:  Are you a person of integrity?

_________________________
1. Dallas Times Herald, 09.23.66
2. Quoted in, 750 Engaging Illustrations, Crag Larson and Leadership Journal, #536
3. James Patterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told The Truth,  1991

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.