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1、Integrity Lesson 141139Checking for Cracks in the Foundation“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day”(Acts 23:1).John Maxwell in his book, Developing the Leader Within You relates an interesting story. In ancien
2、t China the people wanted protection from their enemies. They built a great wall. The wall was so high that they believed that no one would be able to climb over it. It was so thick that no one could cut through it or break it down. During the first one hundred years after the wall was built, China
3、was invaded three times. The enemy did not break down the wall or climb over it. What happened? Each time they bribed the gatekeeper and then marched through the gates. “The Chinese were so busy relying on walls of stone they forgot to teach integrity to their children.”A newspaper cartoon depicts a
4、 young boy named Kofi in a fruit tree stealing oranges. A passerby yells, “Kofi, you better come down, or I will report you to your father.” The boy responds, “Go ahead. Hes in the next tree.” What did Kofis father lack? He lacked integrity and/or good character.“The just man walketh in his integrit
5、y: his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7).How do children reap the blessings of their parents integrity? 1. Children learn from their parents example. Like father, like son. One proverb says, “The fruit never falls very far from the tree.” (See Ezekiel 16:44.)2. When parents plant good
6、seeds, the children reap them. (See Psalms 37:25.)3. Though a child strays, he will have clear guidelines and a conscience that will haunt and judge him as he travels through life. Hopefully, this will encourage him to return to the right paths. 4. The children enjoy the blessings the parent(s) rece
7、ive.5. The evil men do lives after them. (See Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9.) The opposite is true also. The good men do lives after them.6. When parents live above reproach, their children can hold their heads high because of a godly heritage. When reproach comes to the family,
8、all are affected, and children bow their heads in shame.7. If parent(s) live in hypocrisy, the salvation of the child(ren) can be negatively affected. They will not have a desire to be like their parent(s).8. The things that are practiced in moderation today will be done in excess tomorrow. Parents
9、who lift up a standard to lighten the way show their children how to walk straight.Paul lived a life of integrity, blameless before God and man. He walked and worked among men with a clear conscience.Men of integrity possess a strong, upright, and blameless character. It has been said, Integrity Les
10、son 141140“The measure of a mans real character is what he would do if he would never be found out.” The habits and the framework of our lives should always be decent and blameless. Someone is watching us.“Character is what you become in the dark.”(D. L. Moody)In Becoming a Person of Influence, John
11、 Maxwell quotes Philip Brooks, “Character is made in the small moments of our lives.” Maxwell goes on to say, “Anytime you break a moral principle, you create a small crack in the foundation of your integrity. And when times get tough, it becomes harder to act with integrity, not easier. Character i
12、snt created in a crisis; it only comes to light.” When crisis and problems come, they reveal what we have become. We either become stronger or weaker in such times. Trials can become opportunities that build us up, or temptations that pull us down.Because the scorpion was a poor swimmer, he asked th
13、e turtle to carry him across a river. “Are you mad?” said the turtle. “You will sting me while Im swimming, and Ill drown.”“My dear turtle,” laughed the scorpion, ”if I were to sting you, you would drown, and I would also drown with you. Now that wouldnt make sense, would it?”The scorpion climbed ab
14、oard and halfway across the river gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the confused turtle asked, “Do you mind if I ask you something? You said there would be no sense in you stinging me. Why did you do it?”“It has nothing to do with whether it makes sense or not,” the dr
15、owning scorpion sadly replied. “Its just my character.” (Quotable Quotations; Lloyd Cory)An accurate phrase depicting “integrity” is “purity of heart.” It is an essential quality for those in leadership. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “The integrity of the upr
16、ight shall guide them” (Proverbs 11:3). “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).Guard your heart so you will not muddy the waters of your life. No one likes to drink from a dirty, contaminated, bug-ridden pond. It is easy to say, “Guard your heart” but harder to accomplish. It is a daily struggle to maintain a pure heart.Maintaining a Pure Heart1. Love God and His people (Mark 12:30-31).2. Discipline yourself to please God (1
