Does Honesty Really Matter?

"Better a poor man who lives with integrity, than a rich man who distorts right and wrong." Proverbs 28: 6

We discovered earlier in our study on the purpose of work that one of the requirements God placed on us was that we were to honor him in all we do. We also stated that we honor God by upholding honesty as a main characteristic personally and in our business transactions. Not only is it a requirement of God, but it has been found to be a requirement  from the public as well. After surveys were conducted on thousands of companies around the world, it was identified, in virtually every case, that those characteristics most desired in a leader more often than any other were honesty and integrity. 

In recent months and years, we have seen situations where the real truth about  character among some business leaders has come to light. In each one of these situations, what the surveys indicated as the most desired characteristics, were actually not present.  What happened in these situations? Do we not know the true meaning of honesty and integrity? Or, does it really matter? We have observed politicians, business leaders, pastors, just regular guys, have taken a fall beyond what most people ever have thought would occur. Were these just a few isolated cases, or were they an indication of what is lying beneath the surface in our business society today?

A recent survey among high school students revealed the following: 

* In the past year, 30 percent of high school students have stolen from a store and 64 percent have cheated on a test.

* 42 percent say they sometimes lie to save money.

Despite these responses, 93 percent say they are satisfied with their personal ethics and character.  

In 1 Samuel 12: 1-4, we can learn from Samuel's life as to how he kept his integrity in tact. Samuel's honesty and integrity permeated every area of his life - business and personal. His integrity affected how he regarded his possessions and his treatment of others. Samuel also held himself accountable to the people he led by being completely open to the scrutiny of everyone with whom he had dealings. In Samuel's final speech before all Israel, he ask the following; "Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to overlook something?" And the people answered;  "You have not wronged us, you have not mistreated us, and you have not taken anything from anyone's hand."

Samuel sets the example for all of us. He was cognizant of the fact that every thing about him had a impact on the Kingdom and the people around him. Every leader has to decide those things for which he most wants to be remembered. Many want to be remembered for their successes. Others want to be remembered for their character, and others for the influence they had on others. Regardless of how we want to be remembered, our integrity will be one of the things most often mentioned about us after we have finished our course.