Integrity-Magnet For Opportunities

Integrity in my own words is being true to your self and to others who gave you their trust. You cannot really call any man a man of integrity until he is subjected to pressure. Pressure will either make a person’s integrity to shine forth or it simply breaks it. A clear example is found in the Holy book. Peter, the Lord’s apostle boasted that he would die for his master. That was however before the soldiers came to disturb their peace. Under pressure he denied his master though he later realized his lack of integrity and corrected it. Integrity must be complete and it is in fact completeness itself. For example a man that is honest in financial dealings with others but is guilty of marital infidelity cannot be called a man of integrity. People of integrity are promise keepers. Although such people may be rare to find, but they still exist and are most sought after in every facet of life.

Lack of integrity has robbed many folks of the promotion due them in their careers or organizations where they work. Even a dishonest rogue would prefer to work with a man of integrity who he can trust to safe guard his loot. For example it is not uncommon to see a company CEO by pass an employee that may have served him for years who is also academically qualified for a certain vacant position, to go and promote someone else with less academic laurels but has a proven track record of integrity. When kings and nobles are in search of people of integrity, they disregard age, race, educational qualifications or eloquence. They simply go for raw integrity and see how they can build the individual up in those other areas. A typical example is the case of Joseph in the Holy Bible who though a Hebrew Slave in the house of his Egyptian master was put in charge of everything in the house.

Opportunity abounds for the person of integrity in all walks of life because humans naturally would want to work with someone with whom they wouldn’t be afraid to go to bed with their two eyes closed. It takes time and effort to build your integrity in all aspect of your life to a level that is noticeable by others. The trying part is that integrity is not some quality that you acquire once for all time. But you must be alert at all times throughout your entire life time so that you can resist every temptation that may be thrown on your pathway so as to maintain your good reputation. Just what you might call a small ‘lie’ may destroy your reputation of integrity built over the years.

However, it is never too late to begin to lead a lifestyle of integrity. Just like the illustration of Peter the apostle given above, the first step is to be willing to turn a new leaf as a matter of personal decision irrespective of what you may sacrifice in terms of material, physical or emotional gains. Material in the sense that you may have been telling lies to certain friends, colleagues or business associates for purposes of your financial gains but now you must resolve to put an end to that. You must also realize that it may not be easy to stick with that kind of lifestyle but knowing the long term benefits that will accrue to you in terms of the new kind of respect and honour that you would command within your community you should decide to stick with it. Even the wisest king that ever lived; King Solomon attested to the fact that a good name is better than riches.

To maintain your life of integrity you must develop the habit of thinking and pondering carefully over every of your words and actions before you say or execute them. Don’t allow people to coerce you into saying words and doing things that your conscience warns you against. One notable trait among many men of integrity is that when the pressure is too much on them to go against their conscience they simply back out of the deal. They try as much as possible to make their word become their bond. Whatsoever is hastily done or executed is hardly done perfectly. You will definitely come across people who may want you to tell a white lie to support their nefarious life style you must not comply with them. It is better to keep mute than to utter lies.

Be reminded that the benefits of a life of integrity cannot be quantified in terms of monetary gains. It outlives people and even the children of men of integrity are known and accorded due regard by folks who knew the character of their parents. Your life of integrity can make people single you out of a multitude and make you the head man over even a nation’s treasury. I adjure you to go for integrity.