We often think more about physical integrity than personal integrity. 

Integrity and honesty go hand in hand.

Proverbs 11:1,3,5

"1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,

    but he delights in accurate weights.

3 Honesty guides good people;

    dishonesty destroys treacherous people..

5 The godly are directed by honesty;

    the wicked fall beneath their load of sin."

Dishonest gain is not godly.

Dishonesty will ruin you. 

Dishonesty creates bondage and a weight we were never meant to bear.

Why is the temptation so strong to be dishonest?

We can be dishonest because we want to be someone or something we are not.

Ananias and Saphira

Proverbs 12:22

"The Lord detests lying lips,

    but he delights in those who tell the truth."

We can be dishonest because we want to get something we don't have.

Jacob and Esau

Proverbs 19:1

"Better to be poor and honest

    than to be dishonest and a fool."

We can be dishonest because we want the approval of people more than the approval of God. 

Daniel 6:1-11

"Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”

6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help."

People of integrity don't have hidden faults.

People of integrity are faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 

People of integrity do what is right consistently and predictably.

John 8:44

"44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."

When we are dishonest we take on the character of God's enemy.

Integrity either appreciates or deteriorates.

We are not called to the lowest acceptable form of honesty. 

We are called to the highest level of integrity.