INTEGRITY; the real test
Have you met Mike?
Mike is a child of God. He loves God dearly and through him, God had wrought many mighty things in the lives of other students in the University. Mike had even been a fellowship leader. For the past five years in school, Mike had abided by his decision not to ever involve in sorting lecturers to have a pass. Now in his last few months; about to round up, he discovers that a particular lecturer had failed him unjustly. He meets the lecturer who demands that for Mike to pass his course and be cleared, he must drop something. Mike goes home and keeps thinking: His parents and everyone else are expecting to hear the good news of his successful graduation; His uncle has already informed him that he has a good job waiting for him once he finishes and all he needs to do is submit his documents once he’s done. To top it all, it’s not like he doesn’t have the money to sort the lecturer; he had just earned some money from the little business he started in school. Also, no one would be aware. It would just be him and the lecturer; no passing through the class rep. What a dilemma! What should he do? Should he break the principle he had lived by for years thereby displeasing God so he can graduate with his mates? Or does he hold fast his integrity and stand the chance of missing out on all the opportunities graduating that year would afford him? Ooooh what a difficult one!
In Job chapter 1 & 2, God boasted about Job; the same way he is boasting about every one of us His children. The Devil was like: “….let him just go through some challenges and we will see how far.” I wonder how many of us have been in situations like Mike and Job; probably even more difficult situations. I wonder how many times you have had to let go of things you could have easily had, just to maintain your integrity. People mock and tease you and say things like: “You say you be Christian, yet others dey get job and you dey here dey form Holy Holy.” I yet wonder how many; in the midst of such crisis; though spirit-filled, tongue-talking, and demon-chasing; have failed the test of integrity.
Lack of integrity seems to be the status-quo in the Church now. The church is becoming worldly and the world is tending towards the church, and there seems to be a meeting point. Christians these days see telling little lies, falsifying figures and documents, cheating other believers for personal gain as normal things. My dear, our world may be changing and advancing, but the stark truth is that God’s word does not change. His standards and principles remain the same. Any deviation is disobedience, which is SIN.
Let’s quickly examine two (2) scriptures:
Prov 11:3 - "the integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."
When you are a person of integrity, it guides the path you take. There are some businesses people will never bring to you, because they know that your stand on integrity is indisputable.
Prov 20:7 - "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."
The children of a man of integrity are blessed. What about the children of a man that lacks integrity? This makes me wonder about the youths and children we see misbehaving, leading irresponsible lives and are problems to society. Is there a possibility that somewhere along the line, their parents have not lived lives of integrity?
“A precious stone, though it falls into the mire, does not thereby lose its brilliance” I believe if we have a piece of diamond that falls into the dustbin, we will do all it takes to retrieve it, because it is a very valuable item. It does not lose its brilliance, even when in the midst of filth. Friends, once you are an original piece in Christ, no environment will cause you to compromise!!
It is not just by your will power though. It takes the grace and enablement of God. His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. His grace teaches us to say NO. That grace is available. Ask Him for grace today!
Orakwue. C. J
Mike is a child of God. He loves God dearly and through him, God had wrought many mighty things in the lives of other students in the University. Mike had even been a fellowship leader. For the past five years in school, Mike had abided by his decision not to ever involve in sorting lecturers to have a pass. Now in his last few months; about to round up, he discovers that a particular lecturer had failed him unjustly. He meets the lecturer who demands that for Mike to pass his course and be cleared, he must drop something. Mike goes home and keeps thinking: His parents and everyone else are expecting to hear the good news of his successful graduation; His uncle has already informed him that he has a good job waiting for him once he finishes and all he needs to do is submit his documents once he’s done. To top it all, it’s not like he doesn’t have the money to sort the lecturer; he had just earned some money from the little business he started in school. Also, no one would be aware. It would just be him and the lecturer; no passing through the class rep. What a dilemma! What should he do? Should he break the principle he had lived by for years thereby displeasing God so he can graduate with his mates? Or does he hold fast his integrity and stand the chance of missing out on all the opportunities graduating that year would afford him? Ooooh what a difficult one!
In Job chapter 1 & 2, God boasted about Job; the same way he is boasting about every one of us His children. The Devil was like: “….let him just go through some challenges and we will see how far.” I wonder how many of us have been in situations like Mike and Job; probably even more difficult situations. I wonder how many times you have had to let go of things you could have easily had, just to maintain your integrity. People mock and tease you and say things like: “You say you be Christian, yet others dey get job and you dey here dey form Holy Holy.” I yet wonder how many; in the midst of such crisis; though spirit-filled, tongue-talking, and demon-chasing; have failed the test of integrity.
Lack of integrity seems to be the status-quo in the Church now. The church is becoming worldly and the world is tending towards the church, and there seems to be a meeting point. Christians these days see telling little lies, falsifying figures and documents, cheating other believers for personal gain as normal things. My dear, our world may be changing and advancing, but the stark truth is that God’s word does not change. His standards and principles remain the same. Any deviation is disobedience, which is SIN.
Let’s quickly examine two (2) scriptures:
Prov 11:3 - "the integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."
When you are a person of integrity, it guides the path you take. There are some businesses people will never bring to you, because they know that your stand on integrity is indisputable.
Prov 20:7 - "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."
The children of a man of integrity are blessed. What about the children of a man that lacks integrity? This makes me wonder about the youths and children we see misbehaving, leading irresponsible lives and are problems to society. Is there a possibility that somewhere along the line, their parents have not lived lives of integrity?
“A precious stone, though it falls into the mire, does not thereby lose its brilliance” I believe if we have a piece of diamond that falls into the dustbin, we will do all it takes to retrieve it, because it is a very valuable item. It does not lose its brilliance, even when in the midst of filth. Friends, once you are an original piece in Christ, no environment will cause you to compromise!!
It is not just by your will power though. It takes the grace and enablement of God. His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. His grace teaches us to say NO. That grace is available. Ask Him for grace today!
Orakwue. C. J
True bro!!
ReplyDeleteNyc1