Sermon:
Rev. George R. Dillahunty
685 Grant Avenue
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452-3047

October 09, 2009

Text: Psalm 41:12 (King James Version)

"And as for me, Thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and attest me before Thy face forever."

Topic: Standing Tall!

The Message Bible (MSG), records our Holy Scripture text, for today, in this way: "You know me inside and out, You hold me together, You never fail to stand me tall in Your Presence."

The late great American educator, Alice Elvira (Freeman) Palmer (1855 - 1902), the second President of Wellesley College, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, has been described by the author, John Thomson Faris, as being "happiest when she was doing most for others. When she left the college, she gave herself so unweariedly to her self-imposed task of lightening the burdens of the unfortunate, that her husband, a Harvard professor, expostulated [or, reasoned that] she should give her time and strength to writing books that would make her still more famous. ’You are building no monument,’ he said. ’When you are gone people will ask who you are, and no one will be able to say.’ ’Well, why should they?’ was the answer. ’I am trying to make girls happier and wiser. Books don’t help much toward that. It is people that count. You want to put yourself into people; they touch other people; these, others still, and so you go on working forever.’"

As Christian true believers, we need to have integrity in our relationships! In contemporary terms, we might define "integrity" as "having it all together!" Relationships involve interaction between two (2) or more individuals or groups! In order for relationships to have integrity, each individual person must know himself or herself; and, have self-respect - which will prevent feeling threatened!

Generally speaking, we have problems in many of our relationships because we are either on the defensive or we are competitive! If we feel that we must always justify ourselves, we will dread social interaction; and, daily life will be wearisome! If we come to feel disdvantaged, we will live a miserable existence of trying to keep up with the Jones’s!

The Apostle Paul, tells the Romans and us, in Romans 12:10 (NLT): "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

Although Jesus, the Christ, never acquired this world’s wealth - nor did He receive an advanced education - He was always open, honest, and vulnerable with everyone! What He said, He did! He had no ulterior motives - nor did He practice self-aggrandizement - in other words, He was not "puffed up!" Because of His own relationship with His Father, He was not threatened by anyone - therefore, He was not a threat to those who followed Him! After three (3) years together, the result of His relationship with His followers resulted in Eternal friendships!

When we interact with each other, the very same principles apply! Having a strong relationship with Almighty God gives us calm self-confidence; and, allows us to be "real" in our relationships - but, it does not happen overnight - it takes time - it takes a concerted effort on a daily basis!

The Christian true believer is called to evangelize - to spread the Gospel to a lost and dying world - and, honesty in our relationships is our leverage! Unless we have a reputation for honesty, no one will trust us - no one will