Weekly Thought > Personal Growth > Does my motive have integrity?
Select a Category:
Does my motive have integrity?
Integrity starts with motive. I can't be totally honest, for I am sinful, but I can avoid being dishonest. Dishonesty is a decision.
Rationalization does more to pollute our integrity of motive than any other thing. Rationalization attempts to excuse our lack of integrity. We repeatedly hear "Everyone is doing it," or "Times have changed. This is the new way." Again, " had no choice if I wanted to win," or "I had to go along with the majority to stay in fellowship."
The justification for rationalization is that wrong ultimately will serve a good purpose. But in God's economy, the end never justifies the means. God is more interested in the process than the product, since he is sovereign. It is the process that produces our maturity in Christ, which is his chief concern.
After we rationalize our behavior to ourselves and to others, soon we try to rationalize it with God. That changes confession into explanation.
