FLOURISHING MINISTERS, FLOURISHING MINISTRY: MINISTERY WITH INTEGRITY

A certain Pastor preached strongly on stealing on a Sunday morning in the church. The following week he went somewhere with a public transport. In the bus, the conductor gave him more than his normal balance to the money he paid. He was confused and thought very hard for sometime. He eventually called the attention of the conductor to the mistake as he was about to disembark. The conductor said, ‘Pastor, now I believe what you preached on Sunday about stealing. I tested you to know maybe you are free or you are a thief too by deliberately giving you the wrong balance. Thank you.

Well, that is the reality of our world today. People are continually searching for signs of integrity in leaders and Pastors. One of the ways that we have closed the wall of the church against people is when we no longer practise integrity as ministers and leaders. If we really want to open the church up to sinners, then we must return back to doing ministry with integrity.

Truly, many are in the ministry and are full of activities, but how many of us are doing it with sincerity and integrity?

A. Foundation and Definition: Psalm 15:1-5; Prov. 3:1-3.

Integrity is from the word ‘integrar’ which means ‘to be whole’. It is the state of being whole. Integrity is being open, transparent, honest and sincere both in the public and private. It is having your words and your actions agreeing together. It is being trustworthy, reliable, truthful and genuine. It is the most important quality in the life of a true leader.

God and people are always looking for deeply spiritual, genuinely humble, honest-to-the-core servants who have integrity. Sincere people are His heart desire.

Honesty is not something you do; honesty is who you are.
People won’t follow leaders they think are dishonest.
If you cannot be trusted, then you cannot be followed.
You can’t expect followers to be honest if you are a model of dishonesty.
The higher you go, the more visible your integrity or lack of it becomes.
Integrity is exhibited in actions, not pronouncements of intention.
Honesty and integrity pays off long-term, though they may involve losses and sacrifices short-term.

Integrity is not a given factor in everyone’s life. It is a result of self-discipline, inner trust, godly value and a decision to be relentlessly honest in all situations of life.

It is having inner virtue enough not to be available to the highest bidder. It is doing the right thing when the wrong thing is expedient. People of integrity and character do what is right regardless of the situation. Billy Graham said; ‘Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact.’

B. Integrity In Living Colour: 1 Samuel 12:3-5; Heb. 7:26; 2 Cor. 7:2

God did not just give us abstract or theoretical instructions about integrity, He went on to show us people who did ministry with integrity in living colour.

a. Prophet Samuel-1 Samuel 12:3-5

He did not defraud anyone, nor collect bribe, oppress and cheat the people. He publicly submitted to open accountability and probity.

b. Our Lord Jesus-Heb. 7:26

Even before Pilate, nobody could accuse him of defrauding them nor cheating and injustice.

c. Apostle Paul-2 Cor. 7:2

He could declare publicly that no man was wronged, cheated, defrauded or corrupted by his long years of ministry. He was open about his ministry, personal life, finances and relationships.

How about you and I today? Can we truthfully submit to accountability, scrutiny and investigation of our personal, financial, material and ministerial life?

Integrity is not what we do as much as whom we are. And who we are, in turn, determines what we do. We are all faced with conflicting desires. No one, no matter how spiritual you are can avoid this battle. Integrity is the factor that determines which desire will prevail. Integrity welds what we say, think and do into a whole person so that permission is never granted for one of those to be out of sync. Integrity binds our person together and fosters a spirit of contentment within us. It will not allow our lips to violate our hearts. When integrity is the referee, we will be consistent; our beliefs will be mirrored by our conduct. There will be no discrepancy between what we appear to be and what our family knows we are, whether in times of prosperity or adversity.

C. Ministry Without Integrity

Trust is the glue that binds leaders and followers together. Unfortunately, people no longer trust pastors and leaders today because we have done ministry without integrity. Check the following:

Lies and falsehood from the pulpit.
Personalizing the finances of the church.
Stealing and misappropriating church funds by leaders.
Extravagant living beyond your ministry level.
Short-changing members in business deals.
Financial investment with members that crashed.
Borrowing money from members and not paying back.
Using church monies for personal projects
Using people for selfish ends.
Doing programme for gain and profit.
Poor payment of salaries to workers and staff.
Breaking promises and being double-faced.
Moral lapses and scandals of immorality.
Receiving drugs, stolen and misappropriated funds from people.
Using prophecy and miracles to hoodwink people.
Injustice in sacking, transfer and promotion of workers.
Giving church positions to wealthy people of questionable character.
Being available to the highest bidder.
Muddling up the truth because you don’t want to offend people.
Covering up lies, falsehood, scandals and wicked men and women in the church.

All these and many more by church leaders have shown to the world that we lacked integrity and character. No wonder people are leaving churches in droves. Pentecostals, Charismatic and Prosperity preachers need to watch it well. People are seeing through all our facades, pretences, lies and shallowness and they are thinking twice.

D. Why Integrity is Almost Non-Existence in Ministry Today: Psalm 12:1

Recently, Newsweek Magazine recognizes one of the Nigerian preachers as a man of integrity. It went on to say that out of very many who have been tainted with financial and moral scandals, he is free and a shinning example. Why one out of several millions? It simply shows that men and women of integrity are a scarce commodity in the ministry today. Why?

Wrong preaching and emphasis in the church.
Wrong value system by church leaders.
Wrong examples by those who are leading.
Slavery to things of ephemeral value successful to others.
Wrong people in leadership positions.
Wrong motives of being in the ministry.
Seeing ministry only in terms of physical attainments.
The pressure to make it and appear
Lack of personal responsibility to live right and godly.

The adverse effects have been; watered-down gospel; flaky Christians; bad-image for the church; scandals here and there; disdained church and loss of people in the faith.

E. How To Do Ministry With Integrity: Matt. 5:37; 2 Cor.7:2; Isaiah 33:14-17

Integrity is adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character and honesty. Integrity commits itself to character over personal gain, to people over things, to service over power, to principle over convenience, to the long view over the immediate. Developing and maintaining integrity require constant attention.

Repent and renounce all dishonest acts.
Re-commit your heart unto the Lord.
Seek the presence and fruits of the Spirit.
Determine to be honest and truthful in all things.
Speak the truth, stand in the truth and work for the truth.
Be free from tyranny of things and contentment in the Lord.
Develop your character and principled living.
Let your promises and your words be sacrosanct. Keep your promises.
Have no skeleton in your cupboard. Be open and transparent.
Don’t have secret dealings with anyone. No business deals.
Be accountable, transparent and genuine in all areas.
Serve the Lord, His people sincerely from the heart.

Always fight off the desire to cut-corners or to join the bandwagons but always do what is expedient. Character is made in the small moments of our lives. No matter where you are, who you are with, or what kind of situation you find yourself in, determine to be consistent and live by godly principles. It is then you can have a ministry that will last and outlast you. Vote for integrity and godly character every time and you will never lose.