Leading with Honor and Integrity

"The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” – Dwight D Eisenhower

“Honesty and integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur.”

                                                                                                 – Zig Ziglar

When I think of honor and integrity as valued personality and character traits of a leader, I do not simply refer to sincerity or honesty. Integrity’s essence is derived from the root definitions: entireness, wholeness, soundness. Honor as it is added to integrity extends through the inner core and wholeness of the character of the individual and the organization. It is found in small matters as well as great; for the allegiance of the soul to truth is tested by small things rather than by those which are more important. These are the building stones to which a person rises out of mediocre living to mighty influence throughout the world.

We think that we hate the lack of honor and integrity when we are only hating the consequences resulting in the absence of honor and integrity. We resent hypocrisy, negligent ethics, treachery and deception, not because they are untrue, but because they harm us and harm the culture around us. We hate the falseness of fake integrity, but we are half pleased with the false praise. It is evidently not the element of untruth here that is displeasing, but the element of harmfulness. Thus, the only genuine response is a deep commitment to honor, integrity and higher standards which are often the harder road and more often underappreciated, but the consequential outcome rises to greatness.

Diligence and hard work in maintaining honor and integrity as it relates to our personal lives, as well as to the organizations we serve, produces great success to which every participant gains a proud legacy. These personality traits find root with the leader. It is essential for leaders of our homes, organizations, and corporations to frame honor and integrity around every endeavor of life. These individuals produce a dynamic culture which anticipates honor and integrity in everyone. I agree with Amy Lyman when she writes: “When a trustworthy leader acts with humility, is respectful of others and uses the power of his position and his personal power to benefit others, then he is honorable. And his integrity to those qualities is admirable.”[1] The perception is paradoxical, but the reality is everyone benefits and the person leading the charge establishes a “wholeness” and “completeness” legacy.

Within a world where compromise is the norm, fake news is in many conversations, social media produces one-line rants, and families are seeking genuine authenticity; the world is also passionately pleading for honor and integrity. We must recoil from the deceptions of sensational and easy paths. It is our task to strive for greatness as leaders who fight vigorously for honor and integrity while rejecting untruth as untruth: who resents the smooth and polished falsehood of society which does no immediate harm, but deceives the excellence of life. We must respond to the plea with credibility, respect, and fairness. It is then we will be known as leaders who possessed the valued personality traits of honor and integrity. 

You know I love ya, Don

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[1]. Amy Lyman, PhD. “Leading with Honor and Integrity.” The Trustworthy Leader, 12 Nov. 2012, http://www.trustworthyleader.org/eng/Blog/8_Leading-with-Honor-and-Integrity.html.

A principle for survival - integrity!!!

            “A storeowner interviewed a young man for a job. He asked, "If I hire you to work in my store, will you be honest and truthful?" The young man answered, "I will be honest and truthful whether you hire me or not."

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”


Daniel...was a man of integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Daniel was not just known as a man of integrity, he lived his life on unshakable ground because he was a man of integrity. He was honest and demonstrated strong moral principles...he lived those principles and he made them his habit… he walked with integrity.

Is integrity a habit in your daily life?
 You know I love ya, Don

Charles Spurgeon - "Spiritual the Want..."

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "The true believer, when confronted with his or her need for revival, will long for it." This sermon confronted me on every level for revival. The text he uses is Habakkuk 3 and calls for the listener to join with the Prophet and seek the Lord to revive the work of God with in the heart of every man. It is a great sermon that is hard to believe to be written over a hundred years ago. As I read his sermon, I repeatedly wrote in the margin the words, "Wow!" and "Today!" I am amazed at how God's word is relevant in every era and culture.

Spurgeon addressed the conduct of the believer and that too many times our conduct is contrary to our professed faith. He calls for the believer to refute fraudulent practices and establish a goal of being dedicated to the calling of lifting the oppressed in faith while seeking justice in the lives in which we live.
   
Next, Spurgeon addresses the conversation of the believer. In my opinion he is on target in addressing believers with their speech on two levels. The first is that the believer should be talking about Jesus and the work of God in every part of their lives and at every opportunity. The second is for every believer to restrict their talk to wholesome talk and not every express slander or malice against another person. I like how his states, "I have concluded this: you will not know how to get to heaven simply by eavesdropping on the conversations of the members of church!" Our speech and talk is so vital to the work of God, yet we do not grasp how critical things are that come out of our mouths.

Spurgeon continues to call on believers to have a dedication to having a real communion with Jesus Christ. I long for this in my own life. I have found that my time with Jesus is so crucial in my daily living. I do not know how people survive without this holy fellowship. It is through this union that I am able to face the day and experience his fresh mercies and faithfulness in my daily routine.

Spurgeon then concludes the sermon with practical application. He demonstrates a truly believer will always groan for revival within their own soul. It is in the prayer and earnest supplication to God offered as, "O Lord, what I cannot, you do for me. O Lord, revive they work!", where God is able to bring a believer to a new and restored relationship of hope. This is accomplished in a strategic and intentional commitment to Godliness, clinging to sound doctrine, and fighting for the righteousness within our own lives. There is too many critical Christians that do not see the good work of God because their eyes are darkened by selfish pride.

The church is in need of the life of Christ with in the believer's heart, mind, strength, and souls. When it does the world will once again be shaken for the cause of Jesus. Let it begin with me.

You know I love ya, Don

Does Integrity Matter?....What about Character?

Daniel 6:10

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

In East TN in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park are these quiet walks. These are places to pull off and walk among the nature and experience the national park. When Karen and I were dating, we would often find a place to eat and the head up the National Park and go on a quiet walk. It was a great place to spend time together and we would enjoy the park. It was a true experience. In fact, because of those days, it is remains one of my most favorite places to be.

Daniel is over 80 years old. He spent that vast majority of that life in exile. His relief came when he would spend time with God. His refuge was in the love and life He shared with his creator.

Even after 80 years of dealing with the life of exile...Daniel remains a man that walked with God. His quiet walk in his everyday life was to pray and spend time with his God.

    

Walking with God opens opportunities of integrity.

“A store owner interviewed a young man for a job. He asked, "If I hire you to work in my store, will you be honest and truthful?" The young man answered, "I will be honest and truthful whether you hire me or not."

Warren Buffet said, "Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you."

Daniel...was a man of integrity. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Daniel was not just known as a man of integrity, he lived his life on unshakable ground because he was a man of integrity. He was honest and demonstrated strong moral principles...he lived those principles and he made them his habit.

Is integrity a habit in your daily life?

You know I love ya, Don

Integrity & Preservation & Choices

"But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity ..." (Ps. 26:11).

Integrity is missing in so much of our culture these day. The church and its members must rise to the occasions start "walking in mine integrity." By integrity as a Christlike trait, I do not mean simply sincerity or honesty; integrity rather according to the meaning of the word as its derivation interprets it--complete--wholeness--soundness: that which Christ means when He says, "If thine eye be single or sound, thy whole body shall be full of light."

Christian integrity extends through the complete or wholeness of the character. It is found in small matters as well as great; for the allegiance of the soul to truth is tested by small things rather than by those which are more important. We think that we hate falsehood when we are only hating the consequences of falsehood. We resent hypocrisy, and treachery and deception, not because they are untrue, but because they harm us. We hate the falseness of fake integrity, but we are half pleased with the false praise. It is evidently not the element of untruth here that is displeasing, but the element of harmfulness.

The Christian servant is a person of integrity who hates untruth as untruth: who resents the smooth and polished falsehood of society which does no harm, but deceives the excellence of life. The Christlike integrity turns in indignation from the glittering whitened lie. Integrity recoils from deceptions. So even when things are going bad, winners perform with integrity.

“But as for me, I will walk in my integrity!”