One of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Rush, said that it was one of the premier indicators of character. Here is commentary from the Wallbuilders podcast about Mr. Rush’s POV:

“But in talking about character traits, he said that he believed that there was one character trait that came to the top. Matter of fact, he said that he believed that that one character trait was the best way of defining people, whether they were alive or dead.

And he said it was integrity. He says, I think I’ve observed that integrity takes a stronger hold of the human heart than any other virtue. Now, he said, by integrity, I mean a strict coincidence between thoughts and words and actions.

In other words, integrity is when what I think, what I say and what I do are all the same. And you can have political people who will say and do the right thing, but they don’t think it. That’s not integrity.

Integrity at all levels is when I think, when I say and I do the same thing. That integrity is very, very significant. I love the way that you tie it back to Psalms 15, verses 1 and 4.

In that particular passage, Psalm 15, 1 and 4, there’s a question asked by David. It says, Lord, who will abide in thy holy hill? Who will dwell in thy tabernacle?

God, who’s going to be with you? Answer in verse 4. He that keeps his oath even to his own hurt.

In other words, when you give your word, you’ll keep your word no matter how much it hurts you. Now, that trait of integrity is what we see throughout The Founding Fathers. These 56 guys that signed the declaration, signed on the dotted line, if you will.

That was an oath.”

From The WallBuilders Show: Building on the American Heritage Series: Civil Stewardship: Duty vs. Right, Mar 6, 2025
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wallbuilders-show/id387601688?i=1000698075135&r=1159
This material may be protected by copyright.

It’s much easier to listen to the podcast rather than reading a transcript, but I wanted to share.

That’s such a powerful way of looking at it. Everything is consistent internally. Your word is your bond.

You certainly don’t see that in most of the world much less America. Thankfully our country was built by people who held those principles in high regard because they were a highly moral people.

Hopefully we can continue this legacy and pass it to the new generation.