Whether in a professional or personal setting, you make decisions that impact financial well-being

Whether in a professional or personal setting, you make decisions that impact financial well-being. Rarely do you want to admit when there are financial struggles or that an idea has not turned out as expected. In a business, this desire to appear financially sound can lead to decisions that compromise the integrity of the individual as well as the financial documents presented to investors, creditors, managers, and employees. 

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of those preparing financial information to protect the users by presenting accurate records. In reality, there can be great pressure to do something that makes the organization look better. But at the end of the day, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and decide whether you respect the person looking back at you. 

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

• Evaluate the importance of integrity in financial decision making.

Resources

• Bible
• Textbook: Foundations of Financial Management 
• Website: Connect

Background Information

Chapter 11 of Proverbs digs into the concept of “evil desires.” Verse 20 says, “The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless” (New International Version). We are called to be blameless and live with integrity. 

Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody else would know the difference, and accepting responsibility for your actions. The Lord delights in that. If you make small compromises, you set yourself up for greater temptation and risk in the future. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to equip yourself with integrity, and God promises that He will never give you more than you can handle.

Oswald Chambers (1992), in his book My Utmost for His Highest, says that “wherever there is vision, there is also a life of honesty and integrity, because the vision gives me the moral incentive… [But] once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless." 

Reference

Chambers, O. (1992). My utmost for His highest. Discovery House.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Read the “Getting Started” and the “Background Information” sections above.
3. Read, in your Bible, Proverbs 11:1–20.
4. Navigate to the discussion thread and answer the following questions:  
   1. What does this passage teach us about personal integrity?
   2. How can this passage guide a corporation in its commitment to integrity as applied to the reporting of financial information?  
5. Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.
6. Read and respond to one of your classmates’ postings, as well as any follow-up instructor questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop.
7. Use headings to organize your answers so that it is clear to which question(s) you are replying and to facilitate your classmates’ responses and any questions from your instructor.
8. Your postings should also:
   1. Be well-developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.
   2. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.
   3. Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.