How important is truth to you? All of us would like people to be truthful with us but we don't seem to mind if we fudge on the truth with others. Perhaps we think, "people have told us white lies so it is OK for me to do it"; but white lies do have consequences. There was a young lady who was told that there was a Santa Claus when she was young. When she discovered that her parents had lied to her about Santa Claus she began rejecting much of what her parents had told her that was true. She even rejected her parents teachings about God. In the culture of deceit in which we live, how do we discern truth?

1. Who are people in your life that speak truth, even when it hurts? Who are people that are close to you and you have been around for a length of time that have not deliberately told you a lie or deliberately betrayed you?
2. How have you seen people or society suffer because someone abused the trust that was given to them?
3. Why do you think someone would choose not to have integrity and be truthful?
4. How would you describe the difference between telling the truth and being truthful about your opinion?
5. What are the benefits for walking blameless, with integrity, doing what is right and speaking truth?
6. What are the two benefits that Psalm 15 describes for walking blameless, with integrity, doing what is right and speaking truth?
7. How else does Psalm 15 describe someone who is walking blameless, with integrity, doing what is right and speaking truth?
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8. According to Proverbs 10:2, what has no value and what will deliver from death?
9. What is "ill-gotten" treasure or gain?
10. Where are you tempted to go after ill-gotten treasure and why do you think it is worth it?
11. How do you think Jesus' words, "what will it profit a man to gain the world yet forfeit his soul?", has to do with the temptation to choose ill-gotten treasure?
12. REAL LIFE - A young lady, with a strong Christian background, graduated in the top of her class and went off to college. She obtained a fake ID and began going to various clubs for fun. She began to hang out with people who had different morals than her. She began to drink and experiment with different things. It was not long that she began to become involved with various sexually behavior. Eventually she dropped out of that college.
    1. What ill-gotten treasure began this slide for her?
    2. What value do you see that she needs to replace so that she would be blameless?
13. What is the value of walking consistently in integrity?
14. What do the following verses say is the value of walking in integrity?
    1. Proverb 10:9
    2. Proverbs 11:3
15. How would you define integrity?
16. Using the example from Job 2:7 - 10, how would you define integrity?

What did you learn from this lesson and how will you apply it to your values and choices in life?

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