October 19, 2023

This week let’s continue to examine Matt. 5:1-2 in the Message version, “When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds He climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him. Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing champions.” While the world has its own definition of “climbing the ladder of success,” a “climber” in God’s sense is someone who successfully applies the principles of the Word to make it to the top and fulfill their God - given dreams.   

I shared with you this acrostic, that we are going to look at again:  

• C – COMMITTED - They don’t give up, no matter what.
• L – LEARNERS - They stay teachable and willing to learn. 
• I – INTEGRITY - They don’t deal in shortcuts and compromises.
• M – MISSION - They have a purpose, and they know where they are going.
• B – BOLDNESS - They’re not afraid to take a stand for what they believe.
• E – ENTHUSIASM - They give life everything they’ve got. 
• R – RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD - They know that all they have and all they are comes from Him. 
• S – SERVANTS - They know that the way up is the way down. They live to give. 

“Climbers” are people of integrity. They don’t take shortcuts, lie, cheat, or steal to make it to the top. They are determined to do things God’s way which is the way of integrity, honesty, and authenticity.

King Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, had a lot to say about integrity. In Proverbs 28:6 he says, “Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.” In Prov. 21:3 he has more to say, “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” The Bible promises us that when we walk in integrity and honesty, we can expect special blessing. King David, Solomon’s father said in Psalm 41:11-12, “I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.”

Unfortunately, the world doesn’t see integrity as that important. A study by “The Global Business Ethics Survey,” found that one in three workers in the 13 countries polled said they had observed misconduct in their workplace in the previous year. In the United States alone, 30 percent of workers have witnessed lack of integrity at work. 

Over the last few years, we’ve seen many businesses and nonprofits succumb to scandal and corruption. Organizations that have been around for years lose their value, good name, and influence overnight. In an article by Paul Healy and George Serafeim of Harvard Business School titled, “How to Scandal-Proof Your Company,” research found that many of these companies took on a “win at whatever it takes” mindset. What was the answer to correcting this dysfunctional culture? Leaders who prioritize integrity. 

We have a new Power Phrase here at COTR to help us prioritize integrity. “We choose the hard right over the easy wrong.” We know if we want to truly “climb,” we have to create and model an organization of integrity. It won’t be easy, and it will definitely be hard at times, but when we do what’s right, we will come out on top!

"The supreme quality of leadership is integrity." — Dwight D. Eisenhower

Recommended Book: The Road to Character by David Brooks

If this Leadership Lifter has blessed you, please share with a friend.

God is For You!
Pastor Blunt