Why It Is Always Right To Do the Right Thing
There were times in my life when I had precious little left but my integrity. Ive walked out of an impending business deal I desperately needed to make ends meet because I was told I had to pay a bribe for the deal to go through. I had a major contract sputter and die when I refused to remove all spiritual reference from my motivational material. It was not easy to walk away at those deals not knowing where I was going to get the money to keep going. But for the sake of my character and my future, it was the right thing to do!
Over the years Ive found that God has honored every decision I made that was based on integrity. It didnt always happen right away, but I can trace His faithfulness over and over again in the results of my life. If I lost a sale because I was honest, I got a bigger sale later. If I lost money by keeping my word to my employees, I gained employees that remained loyal for decades. If I lost a friend by refusing to budge on my integrity, they werent really a friend after all.
Where does integrity come from?
You cant make someone have integrity. When it comes right down to it, integrity is a matter of the heart. My parents always taught me, Do the right thing because its the right thing to do.
Sadly, most of the laws we have on the books today are to force people to do the honorable thing; to pay that overdue child support, to fulfill a contract, to keep their word. If they had integrity, it wouldnt be necessary to bring legal action.
Integrity is not something you can fake. Obstacles and complex situations will eventually expose you. The truth will become obvious to anyone who is watching. Integrity is recognizable by attributes such as:
Taking responsibility Being honest Keeping your word Being faithful in little things
Desiring to be a person of integrity doesnt mean youll be perfect. I know I havent always made the right moves or made the greatest decisions. But God always forgave me and gave me a fresh start. Sometimes I had to build anew from the ground up, but the foundation of integrity was already there to steady my process.
Does integrity restrict or bring freedom?
Integrity can be very binding to those who dont care about doing the right thing. Unfortunately for them, all the seemingly short term advantages of conducting their affairs without integrity can come back to bite with a vicious chomp! Proverbs 20:21 states, An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.
When you operate from a foundation of integrity, you dont have to second guess yourself. Just like a ship with a powerful compass, integrity will always point you in the right direction and guide you safely into port.
Even if you experience a temporary loss because you refuse to violate your own integrity, be assured that you will reap many benefits in the long run. New doors of opportunity will open in your personal and business life. Youll be rewarded for standing your ground, refusing to compromise. As you take personal responsibility, remain honest, keep your word, and stay faithful even in the smallest concerns, you will be greatly blessed.
But above all, remember to do the right thing because its the right thing to do!
Paul J. Meyer, best-selling New York Times author and founder of the Success motivation Institute has written two dozen full-length programs plus numerous books on attitude, motivation, goal setting, management, leadership, and time management. In his highly acclaimed book, 24 Keys That Bring Complete Success, available at www.amazon.com, Paul shares the 24 keys that have made him the success he is today.
