Scripture for Life - Integrity

Today's scripture is on the subject of integrity - otherwise known as doing the right thing when no one is looking and during those times when you don't believe you'd be found out, even if you cheated.  Those with integrity do the right thing - because it's the right thing!  That's how God calls us to live, as described in this scripture verse:

Proverbs 10:9
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out."

Here's a short story that I think provides a great description of integrity; and you can see how it makes those with integrity stand out from everyone else.

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A successful business man was  growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over  the business.

Instead of choosing one of his  Directors or his children, he decided to do something different.  He called all the young
executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down  and choose the next  CEO. I have decided to choose one of  you. "The young executives were Shocked, but the boss  continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very  special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come  back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I  have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and  the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named  Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went  home and excitedly, told his
 wife the story. She helped him get a pot,  soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water  it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three  weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about  their seeds and the plants that were beginning to  grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing  ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks  went by, still nothing.

By now, others  were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by --  still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his  seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had  nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however,  he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so  wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and  all the young executives of the company brought their plants  to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he  wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be  honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it  was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life,  but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty  pot to the board room. When Jim arrived,  he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other  executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes.  Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his  colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his  young executives.

Jim just tried to  hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers  you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO  spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He  ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.  Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure!  Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to  the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed -  Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone  to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced  to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive  Officer!

His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in  this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not  possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it.  Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"

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Do you see any similarities between this story and the life we're called to live by God? 

-Wes