Integrity and Ethics in Business
- 1. Lesson 20 Integrity and Ethics in Business I. What is Integrity? A. Integrity is moral uprightness, honesty, wholeness, soundness, principle, incorruptibility, trustworthiness. B. The root word, integer, means a whole number, entire, complete in itself. C. The antonym of integrity is guile. This word means – with intent to deceive, treachery, cunning, sly, dishonest, under-handed, misleading, counterfeit, insincere, scheming and double-dealing. In John 1:47 the scripture reads that when Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile” (nothing false). D. Integrity by implication and essence is the true reflection in a mirror. Without any schism or warp or without any enlargement or reduction, complete, whole and true to itself. Integrity is a moral choice – a choice to walk in the pathway of righteousness every day E. It forms the core of our character. Webster’s dictionary defines character in the following manner: Character from Greek charaseein “to scratch” or “engrave” 1. a conventional graphic device placed on an object as an indication of ownership, origin or relationship 2. a. One of the attributes or features that make up or distinguish an individual Luke 6: 43-45: “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit; nor, on the other hand is there a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart.” “Who we are precedes what we do. If we are fruit-filled people, we will live lives that produce fruit” F. Character and integrity have four components Andy Stanley, in The Next Generation Leader puts it well by stating that our character is the sum total of our: 1. Self-discipline – the ability to do what’s right even if you don’t feel like it 2. Core Values – Principles you live by that enable you to take a moral stand 3. Sense of Identity – a realistic self-image based on who you are in Christ 4. Emotional security – the capacity to be emotionally stable and consistent II. Why is integrity so important? A. It’s a source of moral authority 113
- 2. 1. Everyone wears two sets of badges. One visible and one invisible. The visible one is position and title. The invisible one is your moral authority. You cling to it even when it slows you down. 2. Moral authority is the credibility you earn by walking your talk. It is the relationship other people see between what you claim to be and what you really are. B. It’s a source of credibility with our followers Credibility comes from the Latin word “credo”, meaning, “I trust in” or “I believe in”. People will follow you because they trust that you can lead them. Why would someone want to follow you? Research has found that a leader’s integrity is the main reason people choose to follow a leader. C. It does not take long to lose a good reputation (Job 2:9) “Are you still holding on to your integrity…in all this Job did not sin in what he said.” D. It is how God assesses to reward us (Jer. 17:10). “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind to reward a man according to his conduct.” E. God loves it (Proverbs 11:20). “God can’t stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.” F. It results in generational blessing (Proverbs 20:7). “The just man walks in his own integrity: his children are blessed after him.” G. Integrity brings security (Prov. 10:9). “The man of integrity walks securely.” H. Skill alone is not enough to lead people (Ps.78:72). “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” I. Integrity results in spiritual promotion (Neh. 7:2; 1 Kings 9:4-5). “I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah……because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.” “If you walk before me in integrity of heart like and uprightness as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever…” J. Integrity protects you (Prov. 25:21). “May integrity and uprightness protect me.” K. Leaders are guided by their integrity (Prov. 11:3). “The integrity of the upright guides them.” III. What have some well known people said about integrity? “Character is the inner form that makes anyone or anything what it is – whether a person, a wine or a historical period……for character is more than a collection of occasional behaviours or a set of good intentions; it is, rather, who we are through and through.” Os Guinness 114
- 3. “Every man has three characters. That which he exhibits, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has.” Alphonse Karr “In mathematics an integer is a number that isn’t divided into fractions. Just so, a man of integrity isn’t divided against himself. He does not think one thing and say another, so he’s not in conflict with his own principles.” Arthur Gorden “The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavour to be what you desire to appear.” Socrates “There can be no happiness if the things we believe are different to the things we do.” Freya Stark “The glory of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it.” LA Rochefoucauld. “To know what is right to do and not do it is the worst cowardice.” Confucius “Perfect valour is to do without witness what one would do before all the world.” LA Rochefoucauld. IV. What are some ethical considerations with regards to duties of employers and managers? A. Both management and staff should be a blessing to each other Ruth 2:4 “Now behold Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, ‘May the Lord be with you.’ And they said to him, ‘May the Lord be with you.’” B. We should generate our business by just means. Proverbs 28:16 “A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.” C. Employers should practice equity knowing they are accountable to God. Colossians 4:1 “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.” D. Employers should not lead by threatening their workers. Ephesians 6:9 “And masters do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” E. Employers should be willing to serve their employees. John 13:14-17 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I sat to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” F. Employers should not withhold wages. James 5:1-6 115
- 4. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wonton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.” G. Employers should pay wages on time. Leviticus 19:13 “…The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.” Deuteronomy 24:14,5 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he may not cry against you to the Lord and it become sin against you.” V. What are some ethical considerations with regards to duties of workers? A. We should do all our work “as unto the Lord”. Colossians 3:22-25 “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” B. We should operate from a place of contentment. Luke 3:14 “Don’t take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages”. C. We should honour and respect our employers. 1 Timothy 6:1,2 “Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of double honor so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against. And let those who have believers as their masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved…” D. We should be careful who we partner with. Proverbs 29:24 “He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; he hears the oath but tells nothing.” E. We should not steal from our workplace, suppliers, or customers. Exodus 20:15 “Thou shalt not steal.” F. We should be submissive to our supervisors in the workplace. 116
- 5. 1 Samuel 15:23 “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and insubordination is an iniquity and idolatry…” G. We should not make room for offence and bitterness. Hebrews 12:15-7 “See to it that no none comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled, that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” H. We should all operate in the sprit of truth. Proverbs 26:20-8 “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer the fire quiets down. Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body. Like an earthern vessel overlaid with silver dross, are burning lips and a wicked heart. He who hates disguises it with his lips, but he lays up deceit in his heart. When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Though his hatred covers itself with guile, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” I. We should be wise in judging of disputes. 1 Corinthians 6:2-5 “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you know that we shall judge angles? How much more, matters of this life?…Is it that there is no wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren?” J. We should rely on the Lord for supernatural wisdom. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting…” Proverbs 2:1-12 “My son if you will receive My sayings, and treasure My commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures. Then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, to deliver you from the way of evil…” K. We should be peace-makers promoting unity in the workplace. Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!…” 117
- 6. VI. What are some ethical considerations with regards to business relationships? A. We should not work in isolation. Proverbs 18:1 “He who separates himself seeks his own desire, he quarrels against all sound wisdom.” B. We should strengthen and challenge each other. Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” C. We should maintain a humble, forgiving disposition as true children of God. Romans 12:16-21 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, ‘but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” D. We should embrace kindness and gentleness. 2 Timothy 2:24,25 “And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition…” E. We should have a godly attitude toward our competitors in business. Proverbs 24:17,18 “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and He turn away His anger from Him.” NB Please study this lesson in conjunction with The Work Code of Ethics (Lessons 11&12) Life Management III, School of Ministry, by Bill Scheidler. 118