Integrity
Notes
Transcript
Integrity
Integrity
What comes to mind when you think of integrity? Good morals? Honesty? Trustworthiness? Integrity includes each of those values but transcends them all. The word “integrity comes from Latin and means “to be integrated, complete.” it’s the idea that an individual’s outward behaviour is consistent with his or her deeply held values. And that is a character trait that improves every area of life - from relationships and career to personal and spiritual growth.
James Doty is a man of many talents, among them neurosurgeon, entrepreneur, and university professor. Early in his career he was heavily involved in developing the technology and bringing to market the Cyberknife. In the process he became wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.
James Doty is a man of many talents, among them neurosurgeon, entrepreneur, and university professor. Early in his career he was heavily involved in developing the technology and bringing to market the Cyberknife. In the process he became wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.
Doty is also very generous. With a net worth of $75 million he pledged stock worth $30 million to charity.
Doty is also very generous. With a net worth of $75 million he pledged stock worth $30 million to charity.
Not long after the pledge his investments were hit hard by the dot.com crash of 2000-2001. Doty lost almost everything. The only thing left was the pledged stock.
Not long after the pledge his investments were hit hard by the dot.com crash of 2000-2001. Doty lost almost everything. The only thing left was the pledged stock.
His lawyers advised Doty that he could get out of the pledge. They told him people would understand that his circumstances had changed, and that they wouldn’t expect him to follow through.
His lawyers advised Doty that he could get out of the pledge. They told him people would understand that his circumstances had changed, and that they wouldn’t expect him to follow through.
Doty considered his options. He later said, “One of the persistent myths in our society is that money will make you happy. Growing up poor, I thought that money would give me everything I did not have: control, power, love. When I finally had all the money I had ever dreamed of, I discovered that it did not make me happy.”
Doty considered his options. He later said, “One of the persistent myths in our society is that money will make you happy. Growing up poor, I thought that money would give me everything I did not have: control, power, love. When I finally had all the money I had ever dreamed of, I discovered that it did not make me happy.”
Doty decided to follow through with his pledge and give away the last of his fortune. And how did he feel after the gift was given? Doty stated, “At that moment I realized that the only way that money can bring happiness is to give it away.”
Doty decided to follow through with his pledge and give away the last of his fortune. And how did he feel after the gift was given? Doty stated, “At that moment I realized that the only way that money can bring happiness is to give it away.”
You can add one more item to Doty’s list of talents: integrity. With the price much higher than he initially thought it would be Doty followed through on his commitment of giving. The irony is that only after the gift was given did James Doty find the happiness he had been searching for.
You can add one more item to Doty’s list of talents: integrity. With the price much higher than he initially thought it would be Doty followed through on his commitment of giving. The irony is that only after the gift was given did James Doty find the happiness he had been searching for.
Note: James Doty is the founder and director of The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. I read his story in The Book of Joy, by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams.
Note: James Doty is the founder and director of The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. I read his story in The Book of Joy, by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams.
“The weakest of all weak things is virtue that has not been tested in the fire.” – Mark Twain
“The weakest of all weak things is virtue that has not been tested in the fire.” – Mark Twain
“Ethicist Michael Josephson says ethics is all about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that act will cost us more than we want to pay.”
“Ethicist Michael Josephson says ethics is all about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that act will cost us more than we want to pay.”
When I heard their complaints, I was very angry.
After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, “You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.
At the meeting I said to them, “We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their defense.
Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations?
I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest.
You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”
They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised.
I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!” The whole assembly responded, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance.
The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.
I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall.
I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands!
The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden.
Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.
You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Though you plant lush vineyards, you will never drink wine from them.
For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
Be Determined 2. A Great Assembly (Neh. 5:6–13)
Nehemiah was not a politician who asked, “What is popular?” or a diplomat who asked, “What is safe?” but a true leader who asked, “What is right?”
Be Determined 2. A Great Assembly (Neh. 5:6–13)
It is important to note that the building of the wall did not create these problems; it revealed them. Often when a church enters into a building program, all sorts of problems start to surface that people didn’t even know were there. A building program is a demanding thing that tests our faith, our patience, and our priorities; and while it brings out the best in some people, it can often bring out the worst in others.
Be Determined 2. A Great Assembly (Neh. 5:6–13)
What is freedom? It is life governed by truth and motivated by love. But the Jewish brokers were motivated by greed and ignoring the truth of God’s Word. Their selfishness put both themselves and their creditors into bondage.
“The function of freedom is to free someone else.” - Toni Morrison
“The function of freedom is to free someone else.” - Toni Morrison
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.