June 2, 2026

Business by the Book

Psalm 26:1 …I have walked in mine integrity…

Written by a king, but lived by millions. To walk in one’s integrity means to be completely upright, decent, and honest. King David did and so can you. Walking in integrity is the opposite of walking in dishonesty. Dishonesty is easy; integrity is more difficult.

In electronics the integrity of a circuit is often tested. If the circuit is broken, has a short, or has a component that is not functioning properly, the problem must be identified and repaired before it will operate correctly. Likewise, if the integrity of a person is tested and is found to be lacking the problem needs to be identified and fixed. Sometimes the issue causing a lack of integrity is improper training, lack of experience, an absence of confidence, or many times just a reflection of a deficiency of character.

There was once a man who said of another, “He would rather climb a tree and tell a lie than stand on the ground and tell the truth.”  This person definitely could not be characterized as someone who has walked in their integrity. The testimony of their comfort in lying was well earned from multiple involvements in such.

King David was not a perfect man, but he did walk in his integrity. At the beginning of Psalm 26 he states that he “walked” in his integrity. This indicates his past. At the end of the same Psalm, in the second to last verse he said …I will walk in mine integrity... Not only did he walk in integrity, he promised to continue to walk in integrity.

The honesty, or integrity, of yesterday is that which will create your testimony of being a person of integrity. However, to keep that testimony a person must also continue to be honest in the future. No amount of past honesty can overcome dishonesty today or tomorrow.

I was once at a fast food restaurant and paid with a $20.00 bill. Upon receiving my change I noticed it was wrong and told the cashier that it was wrong. She began arguing with me that she did not give me the wrong change. She said, “I did not underpay you.”  To which I said “Right, you did not underpay me, you overpaid me. You gave me too much change.”  Instead of a $5.00 bill in my change she gave me a $10.00 bill. She was very glad that I pointed the error out and said, “Do you know how many people would have kept quiet and taken the extra $5.00?”  I was glad, felt good, and was happy that I was honest about that small transaction, but more importantly, I hope I will be just as honest next time it happens. It would be a shame to once walk in my integrity only to later stop walking in it. Yes it would.

Dr. William Howe