Your Word is Your Bond

1. What is Integrity?

Integrity is being authentically the same person, consistently grounded in your values, regardless of the circumstances or who is present.

Consistency

Reliable

Trusworthy

It's about being consistent. It’s about being reliable. It’s about being trustworthy, not just when people are watching, but especially when no one is.

Integrity means you are whole, complete, and undivided in your character.

There isn't one version of you for church, another for friends, and another for home

2. Your words matter!

Here’s what Jesus says in

Matthew 5:33–37 ESV

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

"You have heard that it was said...":

Jesus is referring to Old Testament laws regarding oaths, which were very serious.

The idea was to ensure truthfulness and commitment.

"But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all":

Jesus isn't saying it's always wrong to take an oath (there are times in the Bible when God Himself swears oaths, and people do in legal settings).

Instead, He's addressing the common practice of casual swearing or using oaths to add weight to something that should already be true.

People would try to make their words seem more reliable by adding an oath, implying that their simple "yes" or "no" wasn't enough.

"either by heaven... or by the earth... or by Jerusalem... or by your head":

These were common ways people swore oaths without directly using God's name, thinking it made the oath less binding, or that they could escape consequences if they broke it.

Jesus points out that all these things are ultimately connected to God, so swearing by them is still swearing by Him.

"All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one":

This is the core message.

Jesus is teaching that our everyday words should be so truthful and reliable that we don't need fancy oaths to make them believable.

If our "yes" means "yes" and our "no" means "no," then our simple word is enough.

If we constantly need to add extra guarantees, it suggests a lack of fundamental truthfulness and integrity, which Jesus connects to the "evil one" because dishonesty stems from him. It's about living a life where our word is our bond, every single time.

Your word is your bond.

When you say something, people should be able to count on it, because your actions always back up your words.

If you say you'll be somewhere at a certain time, be there.

If you promise to do something, do it.

If you tell someone you’ll keep a secret, keep it.

Even if it's small, like "I'll text you later," follow through. These small promises build trust and show your character.

It also means being honest about what you can't do. It's better to say "no" upfront than to say "yes" and not follow through.

3. Live Consistently (Public and Private):

Luke 12:1–3 ESV

1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Integrity is about being the same person in all settings. It's about who you are when no one is looking.

Do your actions online match your actions offline?

Do your words in front of your parents match your words with your friends?

Do you treat everyone with kindness, even when it's not popular or convenient?

4. Stand for What You Believe:

Integrity isn't just about what we say, but also about what we do and believe, especially when it's hard.

It’s about standing on your beliefs when faced with pressure.

Daniel 3:16–18 ESV

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

What are ways that you stand up for what you believe?

Not participating in gossip.

Refusing to cheat on a test.

Speaking up respectfully when something is wrong.

Choosing positive entertainment over negative.

It doesn't always mean being confrontational, but it means letting your convictions guide your choices.

What happens when we have integrity?

Trust - Integrity is the foundation of all healthy relationships – with friends, family, teachers, and most importantly, with God. If people can't trust your word, or if they see inconsistency, trust breaks down.

Influence - When you live with integrity, you gain influence. People listen to you and respect you because they know you are reliable.

Peace of Mind - Living authentically, without a gap between your public and private self, brings peace and confidence. You don't have to remember different stories or pretend to be someone you're not.

Spiritual Growth - God values truth and righteousness. Living with integrity brings us closer to Him and allows His Spirit to work more fully in our lives.

Conclusion: So, what do we do now?

"If we don't have integrity, nothing matters."

This might sound like a strong statement, but think about it: without integrity, trust is broken.

Without trust, relationships crumble.

Without integrity, our faith can become just words without action.

Our witness to the world loses its power.

Examine Your Words & Actions:

Think about the promises you've made, big and small. Are you following through?

Are your private actions consistent with your public declarations?

Is there a gap between who you say you are and who you really are?

Choose to Be Different:

In a world where commitments are often broken and truth can feel fluid, choose to be a person of unwavering integrity.

Let your "yes" truly mean "yes," and your "no" truly mean "no."

Let's be people whose word is our bond, and whose character is consistent, in public and in private.