The room fell silent as Thomas slid the contract across the table.
He had spent six months pursuing this client. The account would bring in nearly a quarter of his firm’s annual revenue. It was the kind of deal that fast-tracked careers, earned bonuses, and secured job security. The CEO smiled, pen in hand.
“There’s just one change,” she said, tapping the clause Thomas had fought hardest to keep. “Remove this compliance language, and we’re ready to sign.”
Thomas glanced at the line: All activities will be carried out in accordance with local and federal regulations.
It seemed small. A legal safeguard. But he knew the real reason they wanted it gone. They had plans—a gray area at best, unethical at worst. If he took the line out, he’d be complicit. The internal battle raged within him, torn between the allure of the deal and the call of his conscience.
A voice echoed in his mind: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3).
He took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” he said, gently sliding the contract back. “That clause stays. I can’t do this deal if it compromises my integrity—or the company’s.”
The room cooled instantly. The smile vanished, replaced by a tense silence that hung in the air.
“Well then,” she said, standing. “I guess we don’t have a deal.”
The door closed behind her.
Thomas sat still, the silence louder than applause.
Later that week, his supervisor pulled him aside.
“Did you really turn down the contract? Do you know what that cost us?”
Thomas nodded. “I do. But I also know what it would’ve cost me.”
There was no bonus. No big announcement. But what Thomas didn’t know was that someone else in the room—an executive from another firm—had been watching. Two weeks later, they called with an offer to lead a regional division, specifically because they’d seen his integrity in action.
When integrity costs you, it rarely comes with applause.
It may come with lost income, a missed promotion, or strained relationships. But what it always comes with is peace. And over time, God honors that obedience in ways we never see coming.
Standing firm in the moment may feel like a loss. But in God’s economy, it’s never wasted.
Jesus said, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). This verse is a reminder that when integrity costs you, it’s a chance to prove who you’re really working for. It’s about trusting that God will provide, even when it hurts. This is the perspective Thomas took in his decision-making process, and it’s a perspective that can guide us all in our ethical dilemmas.
Reflection:
When integrity costs you, it clarifies your calling. It reminds you that your identity isn’t in a paycheck, a title, or a bonus—it’s in Christ.
You may not get rewarded on the same day you take a stand. But you will be rewarded—by the peace of a clean conscience, by the trust you build with others, and by the honor of knowing you followed God when it mattered most.
Application:
If you’re facing a situation where a compromise seems easier, ask yourself:
- Who will I be on the other side of this?
- Am I willing to gain the world but lose my witness?
- Can I trust God to provide if I do the right thing?
In the workplace, integrity often costs you in the short term. But in the long run, it’s always worth it, leading to unexpected opportunities and the respect of your peers.
