China built the Great Wall stretching thousands of miles to ensure their security from foreign invaders. Yet during the first 100 years after the wall was completed, China was successfully invaded three times, not by going over the wall or tearing it down, but by bribing the guards and simply marching through the gates. China spent years building the Great Wall but didn’t spend enough time building the character of the gatekeepers.

America is the strongest country in the world today. There is no equal, militarily or economically. The communist threat disappeared so whom do we have to fear? The answer: ourselves!

A comedian offered this root definition for politics: “poli” Latin for many and “tics” blood-sucking creatures. Put it together and what do you have? Seems especially appropriate this year.

Wall Street has numerous cases of insider trading and even a few of our religious leaders have been involved in sex scandals or caught stealing church funds.

All serve as examples of a serious erosion of our integrity. David wrote Psalm 15 to help us set strong standards that would define our integrity as people of God.

First he asks the question: “Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?” In other words, “What kind of individual has an intimate relationship with God? What standards does God expect of us?”

Psalm 15 continues: Those who lead blameless lives — Do we walk and speak with integrity and do what is right? This involves our day-to-day habits and choices.

Those who refuse to slander others — You cannot claim to love your neighbor while spreading gossip and rumors behind their backs.

Those who despise persistent sinners — It may be good to witness to the wrong crowd, but it’s dangerous to run around with them. Who is influencing whom?

Those who honor faithful followers of the Lord — We often become like the people we hang with, so we should spend our time wisely with those who can help strengthen our faith.

Those who keep their promises even when it hurts — Baseball player Ted Williams voluntarily cut his salary after a bad year and people still talk about it. That’s integrity.

Those who do not charge interest on the money they lend — This is not about banks or business but how you help a friend in need.

Those who refuse to accept a bribe to testify against the innocent — We have positions of trust. We do not accept favors to corrupt our conduct.

These standards guide our Godly integrity. Can we possibly do all of them? Probably not! We do our best and trust God for the rest. 

A preacher once spoke on honesty. The next day, she took the bus into town, and after taking a seat noticed she was given too much change. She tried to convince herself that the extra money was a gift from God but knew better. Before getting off the bus she handed the driver the extra money and said, “You made a mistake and gave me too much change.”

“That was no mistake,” the driver said. “I was in your church yesterday and heard your sermon on honesty. So this morning, I gave you a little test!”

REV. LARRY E. DAVIES  can be reached at larrydavies@sowingseedsoffaith.com.