Starting Now: College Is Hard. This Can Help.Sample

Integrity 

Fake. Is there anything worse? When someone talks like someone they’re not. Acts like someone they’re not. Posts on social media like someone they’re not. Even if it doesn’t hurt anybody directly, a lack of authenticity bugs us. 

Maybe worse than knowing someone fake is when other people think we’re fake. It’s insulting to be called fake (although, if we’re honest, we all can probably think of a time we’ve actually been fake). 

The opposite is true, too. We love people who are real with us. When people’s actions reflect who they are on the inside, it’s just better. We love real almost as much as we hate fake. 

That’s no accident. Scripture reminds us that God is a God of truth, of light, and that He cannot lie. (See John 14:6; 1 John 1:5; Titus 1:2.) As people made in His image, we’re drawn toward truth, authenticity, and realness. There’s something in us that knows who we are and what we do should line up. 

• What are some ways you’ve noticed who you are (your beliefs and values) and what you do line up?
• What are a few ways you’ve noticed your actions sometimes don’t line up with your beliefs and values?

Uncomfortable, right? 

James, the brother of Jesus, pointed out what we already know, deep down: if our faith doesn’t change how we treat people, it’s useless. If we…

attend church (but aren’t kind)…

pray (but act like a jerk to our roommates)…

read the Bible (but behave selfishly)…

lead a Bible study (but ignore someone who’s hungry, homeless, or hurting)…

then our faith isn’t really doing anything. We may still be a believer. We may feel moved when we pray, worship, or read God’s Word. But if what we do doesn’t align with what we believe, there’s a problem. It keeps our faith from growing, and it reduces our influence with others. In many ways, faith without works is fake.

Jesus made it simple: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. If we love Him, we will love “them.” Our faith and the way we treat others is connected. 

The way you show love to your family is different from the way you show love to your professors, but think about this: how would you want to be treated if you were in their shoes? How can you make sure what you do matches what you believe?