The un-ethic in all of us.

Above all, we act with integrity—constantly striving to uphold the highest professional standards, provide sound advice, and rigorously maintain our independence.

Integrity. It is something that I have been contemplating a lot recently. What does it really mean? While I have been attending training this week, our trainers have been telling us much about the firm's values. One of which is posted above.

I do believe that there are differing definitions of what integrity means. As I type outside the ballroom where a good number of my colleagues are inebriated and searching to party hard before another rigorous day of intellectual stimulation in training tomorrow, I wonder if that is what the Bible would describe as integrity. When I see people that I have met who would profess to be Christians drinking freely, smoking and acting as if they were no different than all of the other folks here, I wonder- is that integrity?

Here is Webster's definition of integrity.

in·teg·ri·ty ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-tgr-t)n.
Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.
The state of being unimpaired; soundness.
The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness

Even by a worldly standard of a Webster's dictionary, integrity means being the same unimpaired moral and ethical person all of the time. Certainly as I see a couple of co-worker ladies stumble towards the bathroom, "unimpaired" does not apply to them. I have come to find that the definition of integrity for my work purposes simply means- don't lie, cheat, steal and cover your butt while you are at work. (And as soon as you walk out the door, badmouth the people you just acted "professional" towards.)

I believe that the Biblical concept of integrity delves much deeper than that. Proverbs 10:9 says, "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out." Even though many people may act "professional" and at times "moral,"their perversion will not go unnoticed by the Lord. I say perversion because integrity has everything to do with adherence to a standard.

In Psalm 86:11 David says, "Teach me your way O Lord; I will walk in your truth. Unite my heart to fear your name." The standard that David's integrity was based upon was the Word of God but even then, he needed to ask the Lord to give him the ability to have integrity. He said, "unite my heart to fear your name." It is very easy for me to look at my colleagues and rightfully portray their lack of integrity; but how hard is it for me to look at my own life and expose the areas where I have a divided heart.

Think about this in your life. Integrity is being fully united and unimpaired in devotion to the Lord and to following His law. What are the areas where your heart is divided, wanting to join in perverting the good standard that God has given?

I hope this challenges you as these thoughts of true integrity have challenged me.

B. Blakey

(2 posts in one week- this blog stuff is getting tiring!)