Well, welcome back, everyone. We're concluding our segments on our introduction. Now, I'm so glad that you've chosen to be a part of this training and a part of those who will begin to rebuild the foundations of integrity. You're being here makes a difference.

On the screen, you're going to see a famous tree that's found in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This is called the Freedom Tree. And this tree stands outside the Ministry of Justice, as well as the president's house. Our organization, Commissioning a Lifestyle of Integrity--we call it CLI--has chosen our logo of a tree as well. Now, trees have long been associated with integrity. Almost three thousand years ago, a poet by the name of David wrote these words. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away."(Psalm 1:1-4 ESV).

Now, this poem compares two men. Many scholars consider Psalm 1 as a historical comparison between two kings, King Saul and King David. David wrote this song so that his nation could understand that being a person of integrity truly matters. Think about King Saul. King Saul stands among the unscrupulous leaders of history. The poem refers to King Saul as one who walked in the council of the ungodly, so his conduct was governed that way. He stood in the way of sinners, so his confidence and his commitment were dependent on those things. Or he sat in the seat of the scorners; this was his conviction. Now, in contrast, King David has chosen to govern with integrity. And when he failed, he repented. And the poem claims that he did the very reverse of King Saul in his actions. He walked in the council of Good and Wise People. He stood and relied on the ways of truth and integrity. And he sat in the seat of the grateful and the diligent. Now, as the psalm begins, he says something that helps us to understand the importance of having people in our lives who encourage us in mantras. He talks about walking with people, standing with people and sitting with people. And that's why we have these cohorts, these training times, because we will help each other to become better in the area of integrity. Now, this psalm demonstrates what integrity is. Integrity, I believe, is doing the right thing, even when it costs you. It's doing the right things, even if it costs you. Now, Saul was not prepared to do the right things because it just cost him.

So let me give you a few examples. Pillar of Influence. Well, Saul used his power and his influence just for his own self image. He was actually willing to kill his son if necessary, just to protect his own image. In terms of trust, he told David, "I'm going to give you my daughter in marriage". But later, when it was more advantageous for him to give his daughter to someone else, he just changed the plan. And in terms of honour, Saul could not rejoice with any of his men when others were celebrated and not him.

On the contrary, just as a direct opposite King David, he was willing to do the right thing even when it cost him. So in the area of influence, David used his power and authority for the benefit of the nation, not just himself. In the area of trust, he kept his word to a friend, Jonathan, even after Jonathan had died. And in the area of honour, David inspired others to succeed, and he repented when he did wrong. So here's the group question. It's a bit of a thought: The poet says 'a person of integrity is like a tree planted by rivers of water'. So how does a tree benefit from its environment and how does the environment benefit the tree? What does this teach us about integrity? I'll read it again. The poet says 'A person of integrity is like a tree planted by rivers of water'.