Benjamin C. Maxson, Senior Pastor, Paradise California Seventh-day Adventist Church

Summary: Integrity extends beyond how we deal with church funds. It carries over into every area of life and into every relationship. It comes when we choose to be carefully honest in all our dealings with people and resources.

She didn’t start out to steal. It was only a temporary loan from church funds. But before long, the church treasurer had embezzled more than $20,000. Unable to pay it back, she found herself a thief—in trouble with the church and in trouble with the law.

Integrity provides the safe boundaries that help us stay honest. Integrity provides the guidelines that help us integrate honesty into a way of life. Integrity is the ability to live an integrated life before God and our fellow human beings.

The apostle Paul practiced integrity in handling church funds by being accountable to God and to the Christians in Corinth: ?We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men? (2Co 8:20-21).

Integrity extends beyond how we deal with church funds. It carries over into every area of life and into every relationship. Integrity comes when we choose to be carefully honest in all our dealings with people and resources. It is the application of our relationship with God into our dealings with people and things. Here are some practical decisions to help implement integrity:

? Choose to be honest and transparent with God about the

details of your life.

? Choose to surrender every area of your life to the Lordship

of Jesus Christ.

? Choose to be honest and open with your family.

? Choose to be honest and open with your co-workers.

? Choose to be honest and open with your church family.

? Choose to be accountable to others.