The Unifying Power of Believing: Integrity, Part 3

Integrity, or the lack of it, has everything to do with how we use power. The familiar adage "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is wrong. The only one who has ever known absolute power is God, and He is also the only one who has never abused His power. The end result of absolute power motivated by undiluted love is servanthood. Jesus' first act after knowing that all power had been placed under His authority was to wrap a towel around His waist and wash His disciples' feet [John 13:1-17]. Absolute power does not corrupt; it reveals. Jesus is our proof of this.

Corruption is not an issue of power; it is an issue of passion. Power allows us to unleash our passions. Character is the mark that defines who we really are when we get to the core. When our character is defined by integrity, we can be trusted with power. Power does not become a corrosive agent but a creative energy. When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.

How Jesus used His authority was an extension of His use of power. With His power He served; in His place of authority He chose not to hold power but to release it. After declaring His authority in Heaven and on earth, He commissioned His disciples to act in His name [Matthew 28:18-20]. Instead of hoarding His power, Jesus unleashed His power. For Him, neither love nor power was/is a limited commodity. Just like love, the nature of power expands when it is given away.

Power is a tool. It allows us the freedom to be who we truly are. This is why it is critical to pursue integrity rather than power. When we are promoted based on our abilities without regard to the contents of our characters, it does a disservice to both our subordinates and to us. We do no one a favor when we put ability [or talent] over integrity.

Integrity cannot be gained by either power or authority. Integrity must be gained long before these have been placed in our hands. Jesus lived an obscure life for thirty years preparing for a public ministry that lasted for only three. Integrity requires that we decide what kind of people we want to become. Integrity not only harnesses our passions but focuses our intentions. Our course is guided by an internal compass of our convictions fueled by our passions.

The real measure of our power is the freedom and opportunity we create for others. Men and women who are marked by integrity point the way to freedom for those around them. Perhaps the most amazing thing about integrity is when we still choose what is right when we're all alone, when no one will see us, when no one will know what we do. It's wonderful when we can look inside our hearts and like what we see.