In the movie "Courageous", a man named Javier was up for a promotion as a Claims and Inventory Manager at a textile company. He was to work a practice shift where 17 pieces of inventory were expected to come in. When they came in, the Owner of the company wanted him to do one simple thing: only take inventory of 16 of them and set the 17th unit to the side for "something special". Immediately you see a perplexed expression come over Javier's face, something that the Owner notices and that prompts him to encourage Javier to go home, think about it and give his decision by 10:00AM the next day.
He goes home to discus it with his wife, Carmen, who tells him how much money the promotion would bring to the family. They just bounced back from being behind on their bills and from Javier having lost his previous job as a construction worker. Carmen did want to go back to that existance again. But Javier did not want to compromise his principles nor his dedication to the truth because of his walk with The Lord. Carmen didn't want Javier to be without work because of what he was going to tell the Owner the next morning, but if that happened, she knew God would make a way. Javier goes in the next day at 10:00AM to apologize to the Owner that he could not take the position if it meant falsifying reports. But, instead of firing Javier, the Owner stood up to shake his hand and congratulate him for giving the RIGHT answer and securing the Manager's position. Before Javier left to give Carmen the good news, the Owner says, "Thanks for your integrity. It's rare."
Isn't it amazing how such a simple thing like integrity can be the hardest thing to practice and/or uphold? To tell the truth always, no matter what, is actually frowned upon. Case in point: while out buying Christmas presents for the family, we got all the way home with our "treasures" to discover that there was an item in the bag we had forgotten to pay for. Immediately, I am sure, many of you reading this are saying to yourself, "Why not just keep it? You already brought it home and didn't set off the alarm. Why worry about it?" But we did worry about it because that meant we stole it. We went back the next day, 'fessed up to our mistake and paid for it. The cahsier thanked us for our honesty and for coming back to take care of it.
But then it happend again a few days later, this time before we got into the car, and this time I actually hesitated. This hesitation was fueled more from wanting to to just go home because I was tired and it was a long day for us. But then I figured that was not a good enough reason to "steal again" so I went back in to do the same thing like last time. But this cashier reaacted to my confession as if I was the strangest thing that landed on planet Earth. It was obvious that she was asking those questions mentioned above but allowed me to pay for the item and go home, feeling better about the situation. The mentioning of these two scenarios was not to throw flowers at myself or to make look like such a "good person". The hesitation I experienced is proof that I am not such a "good person" (Romans 3:10-12) and that I truly need to lean on Christ and spend quality time with Him if I am to walk in doing good (Romans 8:2-9).
No, we are not perfect people and there is no one on Earth who doesn't make mistakes. However, spending time with God and meditating & studying God's Word is what can help us make more right than wrong decisions so that maintaining integrity is not such a challenge (Galatians 6:8-10). Over the last 10 years we have seen companies collapse, jobs lost, families destroyed, pastors losing their flocks, people falling into depression and/or committing suicide or even murder/suicides and governments fall. The more that lies and deceptions were covered up, the more that the truth wanted to be heard.
God truly wanted us to live more simple and uncomplicated lives. Psalm 15 tells us what happens when we do what's pleasing to God. Operating in truth is what gives God room to work in us and help us in difficult situations and trials, espeically when dealing with our enemies. Psalm 84:11
says it better when it talks about what The Lord becomes to us when we walk in truth and integrity. When you are tempted to not tell the truth or do the right thing, you need to remember that God backs up those who willingly obey His will. It maky seem like you're on the losing side if a job or friend is lost or and opportunity is taken away from you, but the Word said God follows through with His promises (2 Peter 3:9) and rewards those who are imitators of Him and Christ (Romans 8:17).
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