Integrity: Applying Honesty, Strength, and Dependability to Your Financial Life

Aug 15, 2024

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The dictionary says integrity is “being honest and having strong moral principles.” God’s Word says, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity…Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”

Are you living with integrity in your financial dealings?

Understanding Integrity

Integrity isn't just about honesty; it also means strength and dependability. When we say a bridge has integrity, we mean it’s sturdy and consistently reliable, able to withstand any amount of traffic without collapsing. As Christians, we are called to be like that bridge—representing Jesus Christ to the world by being honest, strong, and dependable in all we do.

Although we won't always get everything right, with God’s help, we can persevere. James 1:12 says:

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

Today, we’re focusing on financial integrity. Your attitudes and actions around money reveal a lot about your heart. The key question is: are you being honest, morally strong, and dependable in your personal money matters?

Honesty: The Cornerstone of Integrity

Honesty is crucial to integrity. It’s one of the first things Jesus requires of new believers. When tax collectors asked Jesus what they should do, He replied, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to” (Luke 3:13). Honesty is essential for effective kingdom work. Titus 1:7 says, “The overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward.” Communities thrive when people are honest, as Proverbs 28:12-13 illustrates:

“When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper…”

In practical terms, honesty means doing what is right whether people are watching or not. It involves telling the truth on time sheets, tax forms, tests, applications, and even in social media posts. Honesty also requires fair treatment of employees, clients, co-workers, and customers. All financial dealings should be transparent and upright.

Moral strength is not something we can generate on our own. The power to live a Christian life comes from God. He fills us with His Holy Spirit and leads us “in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23). The more time you spend studying the Bible, the better you’ll understand God’s ways. Applying biblical principles to your life and finances strengthens your moral principles.

As a person of integrity who belongs to Christ, you can be confident that “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19).

Dependability: Building a Good Reputation

Dependability is closely tied to having a good reputation. Proverbs 22:29 confirms this:

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

Our goal as Christians is to point people to Christ, and a solid reputation gives us a platform to do just that.

Ask yourself: can your family, friends, and co-workers depend on you to do what’s right? Are your words and actions consistently godly? Regarding personal finances, are you sticking to a clear, manageable plan?

The Challenge of Integrity

Being honest, morally strong, and dependable is challenging, and nobody does it perfectly all the time. Selfishness and ungodly desires often interfere with our integrity. When that happens, we must repent, pray for God’s forgiveness, and ask for His help. We can then make things right with anyone we’ve wronged and move forward.

Remember, the only power Satan has is to accuse and confuse. He can’t snatch you from the hands of our Heavenly Father. Romans 8:1 reassures us, “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

So, you can afford to pursue integrity in your personal and financial life, even if you fail occasionally.

Pursuing financial integrity means committing to honesty, moral strength, and dependability, knowing that with God’s help, we can reflect Christ’s character to the world.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I was trying to pay off my high-interest credit card debt, but it was just digging me deeper into a hole. As I was praying about it, I heard about Christian Credit Counselors on the radio. I was concerned about whether they were legitimate and if I could trust them.
I'm still working, and I'm 65 and I'm going to keep working, probably until I get my full Social Security at 67. My question is, if I draw the full amount, and my wife decides to draw off of my Social Security, and you said it was up to half, do I still get the full amount? Or will her drawing the half cut into my full amount?
My husband left me in April, but he wants to stay married until next October to keep the insurance. He left me with $100,000, and we had bought a very cheap home when he retired from his job because he was afraid that the pension was going to go broke. He had also asked me to sign off on the pension so he could get the full amount. Now the pension has been revived, and I won't get any Survivors Pension because I signed off on it. I have already spent $20,000 - $10,000 on the house and $10,000 on bills. I have asked my husband for maintenance money, and I wonder if that is considered greedy or reasonable.
I'm in a position at work where I'll be moving out every two to three years, and housing will be provided. Since my wife won't be working, we'll only have one income when we start moving. We also own another commercial property that we rent out. I'm wondering if we should sell the residential property, pay down the mortgage on the commercial property, and invest the remaining equity instead of trying to manage the rental property from a distance.

Resources Mentioned:

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