Integrity: Applying Honesty, Strength, and Dependability to Your Financial Life

Are you living with integrity in your financial dealings? The dictionary says integrity is “being honest and having strong moral principles.” God’s Word says “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity,Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”

Integrity has another definition besides “being honest.” It can also mean strength and dependability. When we say a bridge has integrity, we mean it’s sturdy and consistently reliable. No matter how much traffic drives over that bridge, it’s not going to break up and fall into the river.

Christians are called to be like that bridge. We represent Jesus Christ to the world, so it’s our responsibility and our privilege to be honest, strong, and dependable in all we do. Of course, we’re not always going to do everything right, but with God’s help, we persevere.

As it says in James 1:12, Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Regarding financial integrity, your attitudes and actions around money reveal a lot about your heart. The question is, are you being honest, morally strong, and dependable in your personal money matters? Honesty is the most important element of integrity. It’s one of the first things Jesus requires of new believers. When some tax collectors approached Jesus to be baptized, they asked, “Teacher, what shall we do?” and he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” (Luke 3:13)

You need honesty to be effective for God’s kingdom work. Titus 1:7 says*, “The overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward."*

Communities are healthier when people are honest. Proverbs 28:12-13 paints a vivid picture: “When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,”

Honesty means doing what is right, whether people are watching you or not.____ It means always telling the truth on time sheets, tax forms, tests, and applications, and in your social media posts! Honesty also requires fair treatment of employees, clients, co-workers and customers. All financial dealings should be transparent and upright.

The second element of integrity is moral strength, which isn’t something we can come up with on our own. The power we need to live the Christian life comes from God. He fills us with his Holy Spirit and leads us “in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake,” as it says in Psalms 23. The more time you spend studying the Bible, the better you’ll understand God’s ways. The more you apply biblical principles to your life and finances, the stronger your moral principles will become. As a person of integrity, who belongs to Christ, you can be confident that “God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory.” The third characteristic that defines integrity is dependability, which goes hand-in-hand with a good reputation. Proverbs 22:29 confirms this: “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Our goal as Christians is to point people to Christ, and a solid reputation gives you a platform to do it.

In light of all this, ask yourself: can your family, friends, and co-workers depend on you to do what’s right? Are your words and actions consistently godly? As far as personal finances are concerned, are you sticking to a clear, manageable plan?

Being honest, morally strong, and dependable is a challenge and nobody does it right all the time. Selfishness and ungodly desires often get in the way of integrity. That’s when we have to repent, pray for God’s forgiveness and ask for His help. Then we can make things right with anyone we’ve injured and move forward.

Remember, the only power Satan has is to accuse and confuse. He can’t snatch you from the hands of our Heavenly Father. Romans 8:1 reads, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That’s your assurance that you can afford to pursue integrity in your personal and financial life, even if you fail from time to time. You can also listen to the related podcast on this topic.

Integrity: Applying Honesty, Strength, and Dependability to Your Financial Life

Related Articles

How to Find True Wealth

God Owns It All: The Life-Changing Implications of Being a Steward

More Than Enough: Rethinking Scarcity Through the Lens of God’s Abundance