Get Adobe Flash player

Integrity – 2015-12-08

And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:47-48

I was thinking about how, when we are entrusted with responsibility and/or freedoms, we are responsible to use them wisely. If not, they are often taken away (perhaps our form of a beating). My mind goes to the word trust on this verse, according to Miriam Webster trust is:
1
a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
b : one in which confidence is placed
2
a : dependence on something future or contingent : hope
b : reliance on future payment for property (as merchandise) delivered : credit <bought furniture on trust>
3
a : a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another
b : a combination of firms or corporations formed by a legal agreement; especially : one that reduces or threatens to reduce competition
4
archaic : trustworthiness
5
a (1) : a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship (2) : something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another

I often use the saying, “I was bit by that dog once, not giving them the opportunity to bite again…” Sometimes trust, or lack thereof, is based upon previous experience. Sometimes trust, or lack thereof, is based on an individual’s inability or refusal to trust others.

In a house with 2 kittens and a puppy, I have great examples of this daily. We work hard to train the animals, but then with little or no encouragement, they experience setbacks and lose our trust and their freedom.

I’ve heard it said that integrity is who you are when no one is looking. Isn’t trust based on integrity? Either ours or someone else’s? I’ve seen people afraid to trust because they’ve been burned, but there are also those who are afraid to trust because of their own integrity – they know what they’d do.

My meditation on this subject is, again, a “just like me” evaluation – am I exhibiting integrity and trustworthiness in my life? Living in a 1st world country, we have been entrusted with a lot – I pray to not fail in that trust.