Integrity in the Workplace

Introduction:

‌Let’s begin with a story that might resonate with many of us. Imagine you're late for an important meeting at work. Your usual route is congested, so you decide to take an alternate path. In your rush, you speed and run a few lights, causing other drivers to nearly collide. Every turn feels uncertain, and you feel anxious and uneasy. Then you notice a police car following you. How does that make you feel? Now, imagine if you had planned ahead, left early, and driven a familiar route. Even with a delay, you’d navigate with confidence and peace. This sense of ease is what living with integrity can bring to our lives, especially in the workplace where challenges and temptations often arise.

Proverbs 10:9 CSB

9 The one who lives with integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.

tells us that "whoever walks in integrity walks securely." Walking securely isn’t just about avoiding pitfalls; it’s about aligning your life with God’s character. Integrity, in its simplest form, is being who you say you are when no one is watching. It’s not just about honesty; it’s about consistency. But he who takes crooked paths, short cuts, cuts into his character will be found out.

In the Bible, integrity is often linked with righteousness. Jesus exemplifies integrity—there was no dissonance between His words and His actions. In

Matthew 5:37 CSB

37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.

Jesus says, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Jesus emphasizes simplicity and honesty—no hidden agendas, manipulation, or straightforward truth.

1. Integrity Reflects the Character of Christ

His life reflected wholeness, of living honestly and transparently, with no cracks to hide. As Christians, when we live with integrity, we’re reflecting the character of Christ—being the same person in private as we are in public, with no hidden agendas.

Illustration:

Imagine your boss asks you to tweak some numbers on a report, believing it won’t hurt anyone and might even benefit the company. Integrity means resisting this temptation and being honest, even in seemingly small matters. Think of a marble statue with cracks filled with wax to appear perfect. True integrity, like a statue without wax, is whole and unflawed. Living with integrity means not taking shortcuts and reflecting Christ’s character, being the same person privately as you are publicly.

The word "integrity" has roots in the Latin word *integer*, meaning "whole" or "complete." It’s the idea of something being unbroken, without cracks. In ancient times, sculptors sometimes used wax to fill cracks in marble statues to give the appearance of perfection. But a statue of true integrity—without wax—was whole and unflawed, no cover-ups needed.

integrity goes before and beyond wealth, fame, or power, focusing on living a life of purpose, honesty, and positive impact.

‌A. person of Integrity

i. Proactively takes responsibility

for their decisions and responsibilities.

you get ahead of things by embracing your roles and responsibilities, including those in family, work, and community. Rather than backing down or walking away, you step up to fulfill commitments and obligations.

Do you wait until someone tells you to take the garbage out or do you take it out when you see it needs to be done?

‌ii. Leads Courageously

by example, making tough decisions, taking initiative, and influencing others for good. Leadership is about guiding with integrity and strength, not control.

iii.‌ Invests Eternally

focusing on things that have lasting value, such as character, faith, relationships, and the impact you have on others, rather than temporary or materialistic pursuits.

2 You must Choose to overcome The Temptation to Compromise

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In the workplace, there’s often pressure to bend the rules or cut corners. Sometimes, short-term success seems to depend on these compromises. But compromising your integrity can have devastating long-term consequences, as we’ll see in the stories of Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes.

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Illustration: The Rise and Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes

‌Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes both enjoyed meteoric rises in their respective industries. Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, appeared on the cover of prestigious magazines, gave TED Talks, and was hailed as the next Steve Jobs. Political figures like Bill Clinton praised her. She was a billionaire at 30. Similarly, Sam Bankman-Fried was celebrated as a financial prodigy, founding the cryptocurrency exchange FTX and amassing a fortune of over $16 billion. He spoke at global financial conferences, was admired by political figures, and was a darling of the media. They both had wealth, fame, and admiration.

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But behind the scenes, cracks were forming. Holmes had built Theranos on false promises about technology that didn’t work. Bankman-Fried’s FTX empire was built on fraudulent financial practices. They tried to fill those cracks with deception, hoping no one would notice. However, as Proverbs warns, "Whoever takes crooked paths will be found out."

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Eventually, the truth came to light. Elizabeth Holmes is now serving a lengthy prison sentence, and Sam Bankman-Fried is currently facing criminal prosecution with the potential for a similar fate. Their wealth, fame, and influence crumbled instantly, leaving behind legal troubles, disgrace, and immense personal stress. Both had climbed to the top of the world, only to fall hard because they compromised their integrity.

3 Trust God’s Promise for those who walk in Integrity: Brings Long-Term Peace and Security

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The opposite of the paths Bankman-Fried and Holmes chose is walking in integrity, which brings peace, security, and freedom. When we live with integrity, there’s no fear of being “found out” because there’s nothing to hide.

Proverbs 10:9

says that “whoever walks in integrity walks securely,” and that security comes from knowing you live honestly and thoroughly.

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You walk confidently because you walk along God’s path and His way is secure.

Otherwise you must look over your shoulder that you might be found out.

Illustration: Chicago Teachers’ Scandal

‌In 2013, Chicago teachers were put in an impossible situation based on high-stakes testing. Their salaries and job security were tied to their students' standardized test scores, but as any educator will tell you, there are factors—like students’ home lives or learning disabilities—that no amount of teaching can control. Faced with economic consequences, some teachers succumbed to the pressure and began changing their students’ answers to inflate scores.

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This situation created a storm of temptation. On one hand, teachers were being financially punished for things outside their control. On the other, altering the results meant lying. Some chose to sacrifice their integrity to secure their livelihood, but others stood firm, choosing to face financial loss rather than compromise their values.

Proverbs 16:8

tells us, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.”

The teachers who walked in integrity, though it cost them in the short term, kept their integrity intact, unlike those who falsified test results, leading to greater scandal and shame.

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Proverbs 16:8 CSB

8 Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

### Integrity vs. Compromise: The Story of R.G. LeTourneau

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Walking in integrity is not always easy, especially when the stakes are high. But the story of R.G. LeTourneau shows how God rewards those who choose to walk in righteousness.

‌In the early years of his business, LeTourneau, a Christian industrialist, faced bankruptcy. He needed a loan to keep his company alive, but the officer told him flat-out: “No one will lend you money if you insist on giving 10% of your income to God.” The pressure to stop tithing was immense, but LeTourneau refused to compromise. He believed honoring his financial commitment to God was more important than securing a loan.

God honored that faithfulness. The loan officer decided to give him the loan. LeTourneau became one of the world’s most successful manufacturers of earth-moving equipment. As his business grew, so did his giving. By the end of his life, he was tithing 90% of his income and living on just 10%. His story is a powerful testimony that integrity leads to long-term peace and blessing. He didn't take shortcuts, and though his path was more challenging at times, God richly rewarded him.

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4. Benefits of walking in integrity:

1 Sense of Peace with God.

No separation and you keep short accounts when you fail. You’re not far from your loving Father’s voice.

2 Peace with your Past.

You have freedom from regrets. 1st by having done right in the first place. Second by taking responsibility to make things right as you can once you are aware.

3. Peace within.

You have self respect. You can look yourself in the mirror and because your conscience commends you no matter what else is going on in your life. You can face the challenges of those who walk crooked and say wicked things about you.

4. Peaceful relationships

healthy relationships because you have healthy boundaries. You aren’t compromised so you do not allow toxic relationships to control you. They have no leverage over you. One of my mentors told me he had job security because he had a good reputation and work ethic. If a company failed or failed to act properly, he knew he could get a job somewhere else.

5. Reduced Fear of Consequences

:** Integrity removes the fear of negative consequences from dishonesty or unethical behavior. When we live transparently, we no longer need to worry about the repercussions of deception, allowing us to live more freely and peacefully.

‌In essence, integrity and honesty create a foundation of inner stability, confidence, and peace by allowing us to live without the weight of contradictions, guilt, or fear.

Contrast that with Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes, who took shortcuts and compromised their values for immediate success. Today, they live with immense stress, financial ruin, and the consequences of their deceit. Their lives show us that, while cutting corners may seem profitable in the short term, the truth will always come out, and the cost of that exposure is enormous.

### Application: Identify Areas of Compromise and Correct Them

‌Where in your life have you been tempted to compromise? Is there pressure at work to bend the rules or to stay silent when you should speak up? Are you tempted to take shortcuts to meet a goal? Walking in integrity means resisting these pressures, even when it feels like everyone around you is doing the opposite.

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#### Illustration:

Imagine a house built on a cracked foundation. If you keep filling those cracks with wax—trying to hide them or ignore them—the house might stand for a while, but eventually, it will crumble. Integrity means facing those cracks, addressing them, and living honestly, even when it’s hard. Just like the teachers in Chicago who chose integrity, or R.G. LeTourneau who refused to stop tithing, we are called to live with wholeness, without cracks, and without fear of being “found out.”

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Practical Steps:

‌1. Examine: Where in your life are you filling the cracks with wax? Where are you tempted to compromise?

2. Confess: Bring those areas to God. Acknowledge where you’ve compromised and ask for His help to walk in integrity.

‌3. Correct: Take concrete steps to realign your actions with God’s values, even if it costs you in the short term.

4. Commit: Trust God with the results. As R.G. LeTourneau did, commit to doing what’s right and trust that God will honor your faithfulness.

‌Conclusion:

‌Walking in integrity means living without wax—without cover-ups or compromises. It’s about being whole, honest, and transparent. The stories of Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes show us that no amount of wealth, fame, or success is worth the destruction that comes from walking a crooked path. They had it all—TED Talks, political admiration, massive wealth—but it crumbled because they compromised their integrity.

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In contrast, the story of R.G. LeTourneau shows us the peace and security that come from walking in integrity. Even when the world says, “Take the shortcut,” God invites us to trust Him, knowing that "whoever walks in integrity walks securely." Let's commit today to living lives of integrity, confident that God will bless and protect those who stay close to His path.