Are you a person of integrity?

Certain words often appear in corporate annual reports, meant to evoke trustworthiness — terms like “ethical,” “integrity,” and “responsibility.” However, research shows that when companies rely heavily on these words, they might actually be signaling the opposite. A study found that companies using “trust” words in their annual filings were met with increased skepticism. Investors showed less interest in their stocks, and these companies paid an average of $100,000 more in auditing fees. What’s more, they were 15 percent more likely to receive comment letters from the Securities and Exchange Commission, asking them to clarify their statements. As one researcher pointed out, “Companies likely use trust words to project a positive image and better manage information within the annual report, but it seems that no one is really fooled.”

With March being national Ethics Awareness Month, this is a perfect time to reflect on how words and actions align. Ethics isn’t just about what we say, it’s about what we do. A company’s trustworthiness is ultimately built on the integrity of the people who comprise it, and in the same way, our personal ethics are revealed not by the words we speak, but by how we live.

It’s easy to talk about ethics, but living ethically requires something deeper than good intentions. A law professor who specialized in teaching ethics once told a student, “You’re currently failing your ethics course.” The student, hoping to improve his situation, slid two hundred dollars in crisp bills across the table and asked, “How about now?” The professor pocketed the money and said, “Still failing.” The student, realizing his mistake, asked, “Okay, can I have my two hundred dollars back?” The professor replied, “What two hundred dollars?”

The irony of the professor’s actions speaks for itself. Ethics isn’t about knowledge or reputation, it’s about character.

The Bible has much to say about ethics, not just in words but in how we are called to live. Biblical ethics is not a set of suggestions but a command to live righteously before God and others. “The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights,” Proverbs 11:1. God calls for fairness and honesty in all dealings, whether in business, personal relationships, or leadership. “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed,” Proverbs 10:9. Just as companies using “trust” words were actually less trustworthy, those who only talk about ethics but do not live ethically will eventually be exposed.

Deception leads to ruin, and Scripture warns against it: “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds,” Colossians 3:9. Ethics is not just about grand moral stands; it is about honesty in the seemingly small things. “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them,” Proverbs 20:7. When ethics and righteousness are at the core of our lives, the impact extends beyond us, it blesses those who come after us. And even if unethical behavior is hidden from human eyes, it is always visible to God: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable,” Hebrews 4:13.

National Ethics Awareness Month is a great time to reflect on how we live out ethical principles in our daily lives. While businesses and institutions must uphold integrity, ethics ultimately comes down to the choices each of us makes. As Christians, our ethics should not be defined by convenience or culture but by God’s unchanging Word. Instead of merely talking about ethics, let’s strive to live ethically in all we do. That means choosing honesty over deceit, fairness over manipulation, and righteousness over personal gain, even when no one is watching. Because ultimately, someone is always watching: the One to whom we are accountable.

Scotty