In our small groups we are focusing on the life of integrity. The business and work world is crying out for men and women of integrity. Business deals gone sour; financial ruin run amuck; double-speak where no one’s word means anything; moral issues no longer grounded in a theological center; personal and instant gratification allowed to dominate—all of this, and more, is evident of our culture “coming apart at the seams.”
You may recall that our last two articles centered on the idea that culture matters. It does matter because that is the context in which we live. It is easy to dismiss others in their state of lack-of-integrity and assume that all is a lost cause. But the sad thing is that often the people who exhibit the least amount of integrity are Christians!
Take the case of Ananias and Sapphira. A husband and wife team that conspired to lie and take credit for something they did not do. Speculation abounds as to what the exact nature of their motivation was. They did see the attention that Barnabas got for laying his proceeds at the apostles feet. Personal pride and a desire to be in the limelight attacks all of us. The scary thing is that at one time or another we have played out the Ananias and Sapphira in our hearts and in our decisions.
Integrity is a matter of the heart. It shows in the ways we make decisions, tell the truth and really care about others. I have come to the conclusion in watching this phenomenon occur (where Christians sometimes exhibit the least integrity) over the years that Satan knows if he can attack our integrity, then he has us in the palm of his hand.
I feel sorry for this couple. It is sad that they go down in biblical history as the couple who blew it big time and were made an example of. I don’t suppose they were an “evil” couple. No murders, no robbing, no stealing, no adultery, no worshipping other gods, none of this was on their resume. But Luke records this incident very early in the life of the infant church so that Theophilus would understand how critical personal and moral integrity is. Do we?
In Christian love, Curtis
You may recall that our last two articles centered on the idea that culture matters. It does matter because that is the context in which we live. It is easy to dismiss others in their state of lack-of-integrity and assume that all is a lost cause. But the sad thing is that often the people who exhibit the least amount of integrity are Christians!
Take the case of Ananias and Sapphira. A husband and wife team that conspired to lie and take credit for something they did not do. Speculation abounds as to what the exact nature of their motivation was. They did see the attention that Barnabas got for laying his proceeds at the apostles feet. Personal pride and a desire to be in the limelight attacks all of us. The scary thing is that at one time or another we have played out the Ananias and Sapphira in our hearts and in our decisions.
Integrity is a matter of the heart. It shows in the ways we make decisions, tell the truth and really care about others. I have come to the conclusion in watching this phenomenon occur (where Christians sometimes exhibit the least integrity) over the years that Satan knows if he can attack our integrity, then he has us in the palm of his hand.
I feel sorry for this couple. It is sad that they go down in biblical history as the couple who blew it big time and were made an example of. I don’t suppose they were an “evil” couple. No murders, no robbing, no stealing, no adultery, no worshipping other gods, none of this was on their resume. But Luke records this incident very early in the life of the infant church so that Theophilus would understand how critical personal and moral integrity is. Do we?
In Christian love, Curtis
