An Integrity Test

How much integrity do you have? I’ll give you a test in a minute to help determine that but first a word about integrity.

Integrity means doing what you say you will do. The level of your integrity is commensurate with the value of your word.

The Lord has perfect integrity. He always does what He says He will do.  (Isaiah 55:11).

Thus, when you do what you say you are going to do you are like God. It’s tantamount to prophecy. You say something will happen. It happens. You say you will call someone back tomorrow, you call them back tomorrow. You say you will be home by 6:00 p.m. and you are home by 6:00 p.m. You say you will meet a deadline at work and you meet the deadline.

If you do that long enough, people will begin to entrust you with people, money and other responsibilities because you accurately predict the future. What you say happens.

So, how do you determine whether you have integrity?

Let’s face it, most of us judge our own integrity not by what we do but by what we intend; yet we judge others by what they do. Not only is this hypocritical; it’s misguided.  Having good intentions is no accomplishment at all. The level of your integrity is measured by how often you do what you promise you will do.

When you tell someone you will call them, do you alway do it? When you say you will meet a deadline do you? How many times do you make promises to people just to be nice or just to make conversation knowing you will probably never do it?

Every time you say you will do something and you don’t do it, your level of integrity decreases.

So, if you want to measure how much integrity you really have, today, every time you make a promise to someone write it down. At the end of the day review the list. If you are like me, you will be shocked how many promises you make in a single day, and how many times you forget you promised to do something or fail to keep your word.

After you do this remember, others judge you by what you do, not by what you intend. GS

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