Integrity
What Moral Courage Cost Some Men—Anyone who has had
courage—moral courage to call these things by their right name, and
who has refused to be drawn into the net spread for the unwary, who
would not be robbed without making a protest, were not looked upon
with favor by those with whom they disagreed. Members of councils
and boards who would not uphold exaction and double-dealing, but
who took a firm stand for the right, were not invited to be present at
the meetings where these plans were discussed.—
Letter 4, 1896
, pp.
13, 15, 16 (July 1, 1896 To Men in Responsible Positions).
The Cost of Sharp Devising—Let us remember that variance and
sharp dealing never serve the cause to enrich God’s institutions. By
His providences God takes away the money gained by sharp devices.
Always by sharp practice dissatisfaction and disunion are created.
Lack of confidence comes in. There is a constant impression that
someone is trying to get the best of someone else in trade. There are
those who try to make terms that are not just and righteous, because
they think they can do this, and they will do it. Let the wrong principles
which have been coming in for years now be cut out by the roots. Let
brotherly love prevail. Those who think by sharp practice and worldly
policy to get gain for the cause do not glorify God. He will not accept
a jot or tittle of such offerings. God hates all such demonstrations.—
Manuscript 16, 1901
, p. 14 (February 25, 1901 Testimony to the Battle
Creek Church).
Position Does Not Make the Man—But the position does not
make the man. It is the integrity of character, the spirit of Christ,
that makes him thankful, unselfish, without partiality and without
hypocrisy—it is this that is of value with God. To those whose life
is hid with Christ in God, the Lord says, “Behold, I have graven thee
upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.”
For all in responsible positions I have a message spoken by the
mouth of the Lord—the fifty-fifth chapter of Isaiah. Study this chapter,
and let not any human being consider that he is above his fellow
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