Integrity
(1 Chr 29:17 NIV) I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent.
Integrity is a steadfast adherence to a moral or ethical code.
Daniel was one man who had integrity and never let his work practices affect his walk with God. When his boss, the king, issued a decree that violates God’s laws, Daniel refused to compromise even when not only his career was at stake but also his life.
Daniel’s greatness comes in his quiet refusal to give up his convictions. He resisted changing the good habits he had formed. Daniel tactfully chose a simpler menu and proved it was a healthy choice.
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead.
He refused to give up his praying habit even when that meant being thrown into a den of hungry lions.
Daniel 6: 6 So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to Your Majesty—will be thrown to the lions. 8 And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9So King Darius signed the law. 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
There may be times when our convictions will be tested. For example, in our workplace, are we willing to tell lies because we have been told by our bosses to do so? Do we compromise on our Christian character when we are with non-Christian friends?
Daniel’s convictions prevailed even under the test that threatened his life. Have we compromised on our convictions lately? If so let’s confess before God and ask Him for strength to stick to our convictions during hard times.
(Prov 11:3 NIV) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
(Prov 10:9 NIV) The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
Some people may say that Christians are being stupid and unrealistic for having integrity. The Bible has another opinion. Those without integrity are the ones who will be destroyed.
Admit mistakes
(Prov 28:13 NIV) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
We are bound to make mistakes at work. When we do, we need to have the boldness to admit them. Covering the mistakes up may mean that we have to resort to lying.
Avoid gossip
It is so easy to gossip in the office. It is hard not to spread the juicy stories around us. But gossiping will get us into trouble. Whatever we can’t resist to tell someone, he also would not be able to resist telling others. If word gets around that we have a part to play in spreading that gossip, it will reflect badly on ourselves.
(Prov 21:23 NIV) He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
(Prov 11:13 NIV) A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
(Prov 16:28 NIV) A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
Avoid flattery
(Prov 26:8 NIV) Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
(Prov 26:28 NIV) A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
It is so common in the office to practice flattery as a means to get to the top or get our way with colleagues. The Bible warns us against that. Give praise when praise is due. Giving praise when it is not due just to meet some secondary objective is tantamount to lying.
Avoid bribery
(Prov 17:23 NIV) A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.
We have to be objective in choosing our business dealings and do only what is best for the company. While receiving entertainment as a client is part of the fabric of doing business, we should not let that influence our decision making.
If we are doing the entertainment of clients, we should be careful that we do not excessively use gifts with the intention of slanting the decision of our clients away from objective measures and feel obliged to give us business. Giving entertainment should be moderate and with the intention of showing gratitude or building relationship with our clients.
Cheating on our employer
(Exo 20:15 NIV) “You shall not steal.
How does a person steal from his employer? By coming to work at eighty-thirty when he is supposed to come at eight o’clock. By spending the first twenty minutes of the day getting coffee and reading the morning paper. By dilly-dallying during office hours. By making unnecessary trips to the water cooler or rest room. By chatting with co-workers instead of attending to business. By making lengthly personal calls or running personal errands on company time. By stretching coffee breaks. By leaving early for lunch. By coming back late from lunch. By “knocking off” early in the afternoon. (Source : Secrets of winning at work by Mike Murdock)
Cheating on taxes
(Mat 22:17-21 NIV) Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” {18} But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? {19} Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, {20} and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” {21} “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Jesus taught that we should always pay our taxes.