Gifts and Talents

           Integrity means being honest or a lack of corruption. We do the right thing when no one is watching.

      There was a builder who was having a hard time. He had a friend who was very rich. The rich man decided to help the builder. He asked him to build a house for him. He gave the builder a check for $200,000 to build the house with a provision that he would give him a bonus when the house was built. The builder decided to use the cheapest of everything he could. He watered down the concrete for the foundation. He bought the cheapest wood for the framing. They do make a sheathing for under the siding that is made of cardboard. Of course the builder chose the cardboard. He used the cheapest electrical contractor and the cheapest plumber. He also used the cheapest paint. He saved more than $40,000 on the project. When the rich man saw the house it looked very good. He could not see how the house was made. As a bonus he gave the key for the house to the builder and said that he had built his own house.

      When we think no one is watching there is one that is watching everything we do. It is God, our maker. When the grocery check out girl gives us $5.00 change too much when we are paying her for the groceries, we do not thank God for the overpayment, because God will not bless a thief. When we take something that is not ours we are stealing. Our God sees everything we do. Even the non-Christians will not be blessed. People will steal from the cable company by tapping in to the cable and get free movies. We take home supplies from our employer. God sees everything. Nothing gets by Him. We are fooling no one when we take something that does not belong to us. Integrity is honoring God. He sees us in everything we do. Whether we are in Church or at work and in the grocery store. He sees everything. There is nothing hidden from God. If we honor Him, He will honor us. We get back more than we give, when we honor God.

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      King James Version
Psalms 26:1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

      King James Version
Psalms 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

      King James Version
Job 31:6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

      New King James Version
Proverbs 20:7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.