Secrets of the Heart - Integrity

The Million Dollar Life
 

By William M. Self, Sr.

 

Every penny minted has tested integrity

What is in your heart?

Secrets of the Heart – Integrity

“All that is secret will be made public”

"Bernie" Madoff,  born April 29, 1938, is

an American former stockbroker, investment

 advisor, financier, and white collar criminal.

He is the former non-executive Chairman of

the NASDAQ stock market, and the admitted

operator of a Ponzi scheme that is considered

 to be the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.

Bernie is just like many of us who gain someone’s

 trust and tries to profit for them and yourself.

Things don’t go the way you had hoped.

You have a choice…

Put others first or yourself.

Bernie put himself first like many of us would,

 thinking we would make it up with others later.

 

Before long life gets out of control and

 we are trying to hide more than we can cover.

Jesus said… Let your

“yes be yes and your no, no”

It seems nothing challenges our integrity

more than the things that involve money.

Bernie said he had good intentions.

 I believe Bernie wished he have

made all his investors great returns.

The biggest Ponzi scheme in

America started with good intentions.

But good intentions with a little seed of

 greed in the heart will destroy you and others.

 Jesus points out that there are many like

the Pharisees who are in the house of

 the Lord but cannot dwell in His sanctuary.

 

Psalms 15 tells us… Those that

“sweareth to his own hurt

and changeth not”vs 4 KJV

“who lends his money

 without usury” vs 5 NIV

We all know having money is wonderful

 but no amount of money is

 worth more than integrity.

Every penny minted has tested integrity.

 

For every penny you have and

every penny you want…

Your integrity will be tested.

Swear to your own hurt and

 God will allow you to enter His

 presence where He will take care of you.

Scripture Reading

Luke 12:1-3 NLT

Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands

were milling about and crushing each other.

Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them,

"Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees

 — beware of their hypocrisy.

 2 The time is coming when everything will be revealed;

all that is secret will be made public. 

3 Whatever you have said in the dark

 will be heard in the light,

 and what you have whispered behind closed doors
 will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! 

Psalm 15 NIV

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?

Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless

and who does what is righteous,

who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue,

who does his neighbor no wrong

and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man

but honors those who fear the LORD,

who keeps his oath

even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury