“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” – Proverbs 10:9
There is this misconception out there that we’ve all heard. “The reason the rich get that way is because they are crooked and willing to cut the most corners”. Many television shows feed into this perception by portraying the rich as evil and crooked. Because we are inundated with this idea, we tend to think that one has to compromise on their values in order to get ahead in life. That is untrue. While the entertainment industry has oftentimes portrayed those who are successful as crooks, the reality is that if you truly want to become successful, you must be a person of integrity.
If you were to go to a business for their services and they constantly lied to you, would you continue going there? If they kept on charging you more than what was agreed on, would you continue giving them your business? If they did more damage than actual repairs, would you continue to use their service? Would you recommend others to them? I would venture to say you would probably go out of your way to tell others NOT to work with them. If that is the case, how long can a business like that survive for? Not for long. If a business owner lacks integrity, his business will not last forever.
Now let’s consider another business where the owner goes out of their way to be honest. They make sure to never cheat anyone on what was promised. They excelled at the level of service they provided. I would venture to say that not only will you continue to support them, but there is a high likelihood that you will refer others to them as well. This is what oftentimes happens when a person puts a premium on integrity.
Are there some bad apples who seem to get away with their crookedness? Perhaps, for a season. Sometimes the crooked and fraudulent way can bring immediate riches but those riches never last. Solomon reminds us in another proverb, “Wealth gained through fraud quickly dwindles, but he who gathers little by little increases it.” Over the last year, we have seen well-known music moguls, producers, and financiers all end up with their lives upended because they lacked integrity. So, while being crooked may help make money fast, it won’t make money last.
Be a person who chooses to walk with integrity in everything you do. Choose honest speech over crooked speech. Choose hard and diligent work over cutting corners. A person who makes it their mission to walk with integrity in all that they do will always walk securely.