Integrity

Everyday we are presented with opportunities to either succeed or to fail. Sometimes the tests are easy. Other times they are more difficult. Like yesterday for example.

I received a call from my insurance company. They wanted to know how my recovery was going from the accident I had five weeks ago. Gee, that was nice of them. They also wanted to know if I had missed any work because of the accident. Why? Because they wanted to reimburse me for lost wages. However I had already taken the two days I missed as "sick days" and had already been paid for them.

There it was. An opportunity to either succeed or to fail. This would be a good time to consult the Bible about what to do. Proverbs seems like a good place to look.

"25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26  Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. " - Proverbs 4:25-26

"Integrity - the choice between what's convenient and what's right." - Tony Dungy

C. S. Lewis said, "Integrity is doing the right thing. Even when no one is watching."

I was presented with an opportunity to gain hundreds of dollars by simply allowing the insurance company to pay me the money. There is absolutely no one stopping me from receiving a check in the mail to spend on what ever I wish. Well, that's not quite true. There are two people - me, and this guy.

"Yet you know me, Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you." - Jeremiah 12:3

God watches our every move. He knows what choices are the right ones to make and which ones will lead down a path He doesn't want us to take. He sees what we see and He knows what choices we will make before we have even made them.

"3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." - Proverbs 21:3

Integrity Test - "Courageous" movie

Doing What Is Right

People can do the stupidest things. Yet, we can also do the most amazing things. We're weird that way. We do stupid stuff one day and really neat stuff the next. Why is that?

I think we humans should come with an alarm system that will go off whenever we're about to something exceptionally stupid.

WARNING!! WARNING!! Do not put your finger in that fan!! Do not stick your tongue on that frozen flag pole! Do not check to see how much gas there is in the lawn mower by using a lit match to help you see! And my personal favorite, do not drive off without locking the trailer onto the trailer hitch!!

Today I'm going to tell you two short stories to illustrate both extremes of this point about us humans. My first story is really short. It's about Colin Kaepernick. Are you ready? Here it comes.

What were you thinking?!? End of story.

My next story is about a young man named Travis Rudolph. Most people will not recognize that name, but he made a big impression on me this week simply by eating pizza. Oh, and by the way, he is a wide receiver for the Florida State Seminoles. That's him pictured above.

Here's another picture of Mr. Rudolph. He's eating lunch with Bo Paske, an autistic middle school student. Rudolph was visiting the school when he noticed the red-haired boy sitting all by himself at lunch. So Rudolph asked the boy if he could join him and the rest is history. Young Bo is now the most popular kid in school!

We can easily form opinions about each of these football players. I don't know Mr. Rudolph's taste in music, who he's going to vote for in the upcoming election or what size shoes he wears. None of that matters compared to doing what is right in this life and in my opinion, Mr. Travis Rudolph did amazingly well that day. What he did was almost . . . biblical!

^"8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9

One of these two football players has done what was right in the eyes of The Lord. The other, well, we must pray for him. And although there may be problems in this world, we must each chose how to address them without alienating millions. Each of these men acted. One acted righteously.

As you and I walk through this world I pray we would be more like Travis Rudolph. This world needs more people like him. Our actions tell others a lot about who we really are. Are we sending a message to others through our actions that tell them, "Hmm, they must be Christians." Or do we look just like "the world?"Let there be NO doubt who we are and WHOSE we are. May we live OUR lives

 "3To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice."- Proverbs 21:3

"8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

Courageous - Casting Crowns

FSU Football Player Eats Lunch With Kid Who Has Autism