Pastoral Messages by Matriarch Elnette Edwards
My dear children,
Integrity is doing what's right even when no one is watching, even when it costs you something, even when dishonesty would be easier. It's the quality that makes your yes mean yes and your no mean no. It's being the same person in private that you are in public. It's the foundation upon which trust is built and character is measured.
I learned about integrity from my father, who worked as a custodian. He wasn't wealthy or famous, but he was known for his integrity. He worked hard even when his supervisor wasn't around. He found a wallet once with several hundred dollars and returned it to its owner, even though we desperately needed that money. When I asked him why, he said, "Elnette, your character is worth more than any amount of money. Once you compromise your integrity, you've sold something you can never buy back."
Those words shaped my life. I've faced countless opportunities to compromise—to shade the truth to look better, to take shortcuts no one would know about, to exaggerate accomplishments, to hide mistakes. Each time, I've heard my father's voice reminding me that integrity is priceless.
Integrity means you pay your bills on time, you honor your commitments, you tell the truth even when it's inconvenient, you keep confidences, you admit when you're wrong, you give an honest day's work for your pay, and you do what you said you'd do when you said you'd do it. These aren't extraordinary acts—they're simply the basics of living with integrity.
In ministry, integrity is absolutely essential. People are watching how we live, not just listening to what we say. If our private life doesn't match our public preaching, we lose credibility and damage the cause of Christ. I've seen ministers with great gifts fall because they lacked integrity. Their talent opened doors, but their character couldn't sustain them.
Integrity is also tested in small things. Will you keep your word even in minor matters? Will you be honest even when the stakes seem low? Jesus said whoever is faithful in little will be faithful in much. How you handle small tests of integrity reveals what you'll do when the stakes are higher.
I've also learned that integrity sometimes costs you opportunities. There have been situations where doing the right thing meant losing a contract, disappointing someone influential, or missing a financial blessing. But every time I've chosen integrity over advantage, God has honored that choice. Maybe not immediately, maybe not in the way I expected, but always eventually.
The beautiful thing about integrity is that it builds a reputation that precedes you. When people know you're trustworthy, doors open naturally. When they know your word is good, relationships deepen. When they know you do right even when it's hard, they want you on their team.
But integrity isn't about reputation management—it's about character formation. It's about becoming a person whose internal values align with external actions, whose private life matches public profession, whose character is consistent whether anyone is watching or not.
Today, examine your integrity. Are there areas where you've compromised? Are there commitments you haven't kept? Are there truths you've shaded? It's never too late to restore integrity. Confess where you've failed, make restitution where possible, and commit to living with integrity going forward. Your character is your most valuable asset—guard it carefully.
Walking in integrity,
Matriarch Elnette Edwards
Comments
Post a Comment