Broken Integrity
Honesty – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  Ephesians 4:20-28

Key Verse: Ephesians 4:25

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

As we continue our study of honesty from yesterday, the apostle writes of one more aspect.  Honesty deals with more than just our words or lack of words; it spreads into our business life.  Ephesians 4:28 tells the person who has been stealing to steal no more.  As we look at old patterns of living, before Christ, we can see that stealing is a common and acceptable pattern for far too many people.

Some people had no conscience before Christ, literally stealing things they wanted.  Their only concern was how to do it without getting caught.  Like one man said: “If people are stupid enough to leave things out, they deserve to have it stolen.”  The old self can justify many things that lead to broken integrity.

Other forms of stealing are probably more common: such things as being less than honest with an insurance claim to get more money.  This person feels justified in stealing from the company because “they are so big and charge such high premiums; they deserve to pay.”  Or another common form of stealing is taking “cash only” in business transactions, so the government doesn’t get taxes.  Again, the old self finds ways to justify this kind of stealing, but the Gospel changes our thinking patterns and wants to restore our integrity!  He (or she) who is stealing must steal no longer!  God cares about this issue.  Do you?

Father, I submit to your commands, so I can restore all areas of brokenness in my integrity.  In Jesus’ name, amen.