How to Live with Integrity from Chapter 10 of Joyce Meyer’s New BookThe Pathway to Success
If you were to ask people today what integrity is, I think many of them would probably have no idea. This is tragic. We not only need to resurrect the word integrity in our culture, we also need to model it in our lives. Integrity is being honest, keeping our word, and having strong morals. It is also the state of being whole or undivided. In other words, people of integrity don’t say one thing and do another. They don’t live one life when people are watching and another when nobody is watching. Actually, God is always watching, and we should live with this in mind.
Those of us who have the privilege of teaching God’s Word should teach principles of integrity and help people understand the importance of it. Paul told Titus to set an example by doing what is good and in his teaching to “show integrity and seriousness” (Titus 2:7).
Consider what these scriptures teach us about integrity:
- According to Proverbs 20:7, righteous people who walk in integrity are blessed and so are their children (esv).
- David writes in Psalm 101:2, “I will walk within my house with integrity and with a blameless heart” (ampc). This means he walked with integrity in the privacy of his home, when no one was looking.
- Psalm 15:4 says that those who fear and honor the Lord keep their word “even when it hurts and does not change their mind.” This means to tell the truth even if it causes you to have problems.
Do you know Monty Roberts’ story?
Monty Roberts grew up around horses in California. His father was a horse trainer and Monty was riding before he learned to walk. This was during the heyday of Western Movies and as a child Monty rode horses in movies, often as a stunt double for child actors. He later got into rodeos and horse shows and earned a reputation as a great horseman.
Roberts always dreamed of being a horse trainer himself, and with a wife and a couple of kids to support he figured it was time to get serious, so he went into the business. In spite of his reputation as a great rider, Roberts was an inexperienced trainer, and had trouble getting clients. He had only 4 horses to train which wasn’t bringing in nearly enough money to support his family.
Roberts wasn’t sure what he was going to do when an opportunity was presented to work as an apprentice with Don Dodge, one of the most well-known and well-respected trainers in the area. He was told to bring two of his horses with him.
After 10 weeks the apprenticeship ended and Roberts met with Dodge. One of the horses he had brought with him was named Panama Buck. Dodge told Roberts that when he got home he should call up the horse’s owner, Lawson Williams, and tell him that he was wasting his money having Roberts train the horse because the horse was never going to amount to anything.
Roberts was understandably reluctant to do this, as that would eliminate a quarter of his already meager income. When he asked Dodge why he should do this, Dodge responded that the most important thing he could do was always tell owners the truth about their horses, and if he did this he would soon get more than enough business to replace the loss.
Roberts went home and did as instructed but Williams didn’t take the news well. He responded by berating Roberts, screaming “You useless son of a gun, you wouldn’t know a good horse if it leapt up between your legs. That’s the last horse you’ll ever get from me!”
Several days later Roberts’ phone rang. A voice on the other end said, “Hello, Mr. Gray here, Joe Gray.” He went on, “I was having lunch with Mr. Williams yesterday. He was complaining about you, but from what I heard you must be about the only honest trainer I ever heard of. Well, I know that Panama Buck horse of his wasn’t any good, and I just want to take a chance on you. I have this horse I want to send to you; it’s called My Blue Heaven.”
From that point on things started to turn around for Roberts. He gained a reputation as not only a great trainer, but an honest one, and soon he had more than enough horses to train. Eventually he would even have the opportunity to train horses for the Queen of England. And it all started with following some wise advice from a mentor to always be honest, even when the price is high.
I wholeheartedly believe that following the principles of excellence and integrity is the reason God has blessed our ministry so much. I also believe that, as you follow them, your life will be blessed.
To keep reading, download the full chapter below!
Renowned Bible teacher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer shows readers how to realign their perspective on success to conform with God’s vision for the kind of life that brings us true purpose and lasting joy.
The world tells us that having a good job, owning your own business, money, fame, and influence are all important for a successful life. If we don’t have them, we feel like a failure. But even when we achieve them, we still end up unhappy, unfulfilled, or lonely.God wants us to be successful, but His definition of success is not the same as the world's definition. The truth is, God’s way of achieving the dreams and desires that truly fulfill us and bring genuine joy to our lives is very different—and that is what we need.
In The Pathway to Success, you will discover a deeper understanding of what it means to seek success God's way. Through her practical, relatable insights based on God’s Word, beloved Bible teacher Joyce Meyer reveals how to actively pursue the keys to true, lasting success. Full of rich encouragement and timeless wisdom, The Pathway to Success will allow you to refocus your life and fulfill your God-given destiny as you walk out the purpose He’s planned for you.
