Where Did Integrity Go?

It's always wonderful to hear or read a "good-news" story. Sadly, it seems as if these types of stories are too few and far between in today's world. Fortunately, every now and then you do come across a story that gives you hope...

A New York state woman who tracked down a woman to return a lost purse said the good karma from her deed did not stop her from being hit by a car.

Jessica Wieczorek, 26, manager of the Coffee Culture cafe on Elmwood Street in Buffalo, said she found the purse Feb. 11 when it was left behind by a customer and used a Sam's Club card inside and Google to find the phone number of the owner, Lidia Couzo, The Buffalo News reported Wednesday.

Couzo said she was overjoyed to get her purse back, especially since she had just cashed a $1,800 check and the money was inside.

"I think it's amazing," Couzo said. "That just shows you the type of people we have here. In an economy that has people reeling, to me this was significant."

Wieczorek was rewarded by Couzo. -UPI, February 22, 2012

I am thoroughly convinced that we need to spend more time in thinking and talking about the importance of integrity. By definition, integrity means “soundness of moral principle and character, complete honesty and uprightness with no masking of intent.” Its opposite is hypocrisy. Integrity demands that a person put on no false front, that he wear no artificial mask, and that he play no deceptive role.

It means that a person must be openly honest, making certain that he conveys no false claims either in word or in life. Integrity excludes lying, stealing, cheating, and every form of deception. It is a broad, inclusive term referring to one of the deepest and most important qualities of a worthy life. It describes the man, or woman who is worthy of complete trust.

The scriptures often speak of integrity, sometimes using the word itself, but often referring to the idea without using the word. For example: Proverbs 19:1; Proverbs 20:7; Deuteronomy 16:19-20; Psalm 15:1-4.

Similarly, when one turns to the Bible he finds several striking examples of the lack of integrity. One of the most striking examples is the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37:31-35.

In the New Testament we find an incident in Matthew 22 which shows a shocking lack of integrity even among some of the religious leaders of the day! (Matthew 22:15-17; Matthew 22:21)

A further example of deception and dishonesty of purpose among the religious leaders of Christ’s day is seen in a conversation, which followed the healing of a lame man at the gate of the temple. (Acts 4:16-17)

It is right here that I would like to pause and think about the great cost of hypocrisy and deception. It is so vitally important that parents not deceive their children, yet many of the younger generation feel that their parents have lied to them. Sometimes the lying has been in words.

More often it has been in terms of hypocrisy--paying lip service to certain ideals of conduct, but denying those ideals in daily living. One of the complaints of the younger generation is that the older generation has deceived them!

But all is not so dismal! There are other examples in the scriptures, however, which demonstrate the beauty and the power of integrity. The story of Job is but one example that comes to mind (Job. 1:1; Job 1:20-22; Job 2:9-10; 42:10).

In closing, open honesty, no false-front, no mask, this is what is needed in society today. May our lives be such that people will be able to trust us fully and completely. May there be no deception or ploys. Christ lived such a life before us. He taught the highest of principles and then lived his life in perfect conformity to those principles.

He was the same to all men. He was the same on every occasion. He was openly honest, hiding nothing, and ashamed of nothing. Eventually, his life so contrasted with those about him that it engendered hatred and jealousy, which ultimately caused his death. How great the cost! But, how inspiring the example!

Let's Pray:

Father in Heaven, You made me Your child and called me to walk in the Light of Christ. Free me from darkness and keep me in the Light of Your Truth. The Light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin. Called to that Light, I ask for Your guidance. Form my life in Your Truth, and my heart in Your Love. Amen

God loves you!

Jerri