Integrity Not for Sale

Living amidst the culture of mediocrity and spiritual decay has caused many to forsake their moral principles. If you faithfully and obediently walk in the principles of a holy life in this contemporary world, you will be associated with tags like been strict, inhuman, unfriendly, old-fashion, barbaric, conservative and the like. Since these associative tags are not easy to embrace, those who had once held firm to godly principles and guidelines become conformists and yield to negative influences. The evil influences that have enshrouded the atmosphere around us benumb our consciences to the extent that we lose sight on our moral compasses.

In our world today, we are witnessing a decrease in holiness. Absolute Christianity is giving way to spiritual fanaticism and normalism. Secret associations, séances, satanic witchery, spiritist mediums and occultism have become so ubiquitous that the faithful few always suffer the text of conformity and compromise. The integrity of men and women are tested daily and many are they who sell their priceless worth (integrity) for frivolous worldly gains.

When you are confronted to tell a lie in order to cover up a particular sin, to compromise in an evil deal, to engage in a premarital or extramarital sex, yield to bribery and corruption, to smuggle assets, compact group or institutional assets for yourself, you are hovering between two opinions. The choice is between whether to exchange your expensive asset (your integrity and salvation) for that worldly pleasure or temporal enjoyment?

The devil comes to us in diverse ways, to Joseph it was a temptation to compromise his chastity; to Naboth, it was a demand for his family treasure; to Daniel it was a threat to give in his prayer life and fidelity to God; to the three Hebrew boys (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) it was a call to compromise their faith in God; to Jesus Christ it was a call to denial His Lordship and bow in exchange for worldly treasures. To you, it may be that you are pricked to surrender your chastity or to be hooked to drugs or alcohol, or to engage in evil associations or secret societies. Remember that all these are calls for you to compromise; and a bargain for your hard earned integrity. Moreover, if you find yourself in a position or rank with several subordinates or opportunities, be careful not to misuse your power because it will make you prone to temptation.

When you are tempted to do wrong or pressured to sell your integrity, remember the rules of life; Thou shalt have no other gods before me (God), Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. (1 Kings 21:1-3; Daniel 1:8; Daniel 3:8-18; Mathew 4:1-11; Exodus 20:1-18)

Pr. Nicholas Obeng Agyekum