Pequenas Decisões, Grandes Consequências

Pequenas Decisões, Grandes Conseqüências

“Um jovem com potencial a liderar trabalha enquanto os outros desperdiçam tempo, estuda

Enquanto os outros dormem, oram enquanto os outros ficam viajando nas suas mentes”.

Samuel Chadwick – pastor Metodista que impactou sua geração levantou cada dia 6 horas da manha para tomar um banho frio no verão e no inverno. Dizem que raramente viu a luz no seu escritório apagado antes de 2 horas da manha.

His father worked in a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_mill" \o "Cotton mill" cotton mill; at the age of 8, Samuel joined him, working 12-hour shifts. At the age of 21, he became a lay HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastor" \o "Pastor" pastor at Stacksteads in HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancashire" \o "Lancashire" Lancashire.

Chadwick began lecturing weekly at HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_College" \o "Cliff College" Cliff College in 1904, commuting from HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds" \o "Leeds" Leeds. In 1907, he was appointed to a faculty position as a biblical and HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology" \o "Theology" theological tutor. Although he was doing mission work in the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Yorkshire" \o "South Yorkshire" South Yorkshire coal fields when the principal of Cliff died in 1912, he immediately returned to the school and was formally appointed principal himself in 1913.

Famed outdoor evangelist HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Ravenhill" \o "Leonard Ravenhill" Leonard Ravenhill was educated at Cliff College during Chadwick's tenure.

George Whitefield levantou as 4 tida manha e dormiu as 10 da noite. Quando chegou essa hora, independente com quem estava conversando ou onde estava a conversa, ele com muito jeitinho, mandou todo mundo embora.

“Integrity means doing the same thing whether people are with you or whether you are alone.”

Integrity doesn’t just apply to big decisions. It also applies to your small decisions. It pertains to your whole life.

Integrity is doing the right thing, not necessarily the popular thing.

Integrity is the concept of wholeness. Synonyms are honesty, virtue, honor, morality, uprightness, soundness, and sincerity. Four verses help form the basis for biblical integrity: "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out" ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Proverbs+10%3A9" \o "view Scripture passage at BibleGateway.com" \t "_blank" Prov. 10:9); "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man" ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Acts+24%3A16" \o "view Scripture passage at BibleGateway.com" \t "_blank" Acts 24:16); "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them" ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Psalm+78%3A72" \o "view Scripture passage at BibleGateway.com" \t "_blank" Psalm 78:72); and, "He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall" ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Proverbs+28%3A18" \o "view Scripture passage at BibleGateway.com" \t "_blank" Prov. 28:18).

Integrity is an issue of the heart. It is rooted in our spiritual walk with God. C. S. Lewis stated it clearly in God in the Dock: "Moral collapse follows upon spiritual collapse." Above all, guard your daily walk with God.

Integrity is an issue of our actions. It is not just what we believe, but also what we do.

Integrity is an issue of others' perceptions. Reputation is key. "Dead flies in perfume make it stink, and a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom" ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Ecclesiastes+10%3A1" \o "view Scripture passage at BibleGateway.com" \t "_blank" Eccl. 10:1).

How does integrity, or lack thereof, develop? No one becomes a liar, thief, or cheat in one sudden momentous decision, but rather in a series of innocuous, seemingly minor choices. When we dig our grave ethically or morally, it is not with a big ditch digger, but with a small teaspoon, one little decision at a time. Wrong moral decisions are built on small indiscretions over time—a small plagiarism, minor cheating, a few white lies, giving an impression that lies without words, or a private indulgence in morally questionable practices. Every decision counts.

Moral and ethical suicide occurs when I no longer feel bad when violating my ethical or moral principles, or when I rationalize that there are no absolutes to tell me how to live.

The focus of integrity is God, who knows our hearts and is the ultimate judge; our family, whom consequences of actions impact the most; leaders, coworkers, and followers; and lost people who are influenced toward or away from Christ as they observe us.

The currency of integrity is our word (we do what we say—our word is our bond); our money (checkbooks reveal much about the heart); our faithfulness to God, our family, and our mission; and our lifestyle (whether a paid ministry leader or a volunteer, lifestyle creates lasting impressions).

Here are some simple guidelines to leading lives of integrity:

The inner gauge of integrity is our conscience. That still, small voice speaks loudly when we cross its boundaries. We must build a biblical conscience and develop it conscientiously. The second and third chapters of my book Honesty, Morality and Conscience cover this in detail.

The voice of integrity is how we perform our jobs and live our lives. People believe what they see.

The spirit of integrity is revealed by how we treat and think about people. The counsel in James 2, "Don't show favoritism," speaks to both attitude and actions.

The reputation of integrity emanates from credibility and trust built over years. It can be destroyed in a moment, so guard it well.

Integrity flows out of a deep personal walk with God and a deep commitment to live out the life of Christ minute by minute and day by day.Integrity is both a character trait and a practical discipline. All of our talents, success, and skills amount to nothing without personal integrity.