https://odb.org/2026/04/01/true-integrity
1 Peter 2:11–17 (NIV): 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
At a job interview, Carol was asked repeatedly, “Why did you leave your previous job?” The interviewer had an inkling of the conflict she’d had with her former employer. While acknowledging “differences in working style,” Carol refused to divulge her opinion of her former boss, believing that it would be wrong to speak ill of him. Later, after she was hired, her new boss revealed that the hiring personnel liked her response: “We were impressed by your integrity. We wouldn’t want you to bad-mouth your boss—or us next time—either.” (Leslie Koh, Our Daily Bread 1st April 2026)
Peter encourages God’s “chosen people” (1 Peter 2:9) to live honourable and blameless lives, doing good works and living as Jesus lived in an unbelieving, hostile world so as to bring glory to God (vv. 9-21). Paul similarly urges believers in Christ to “live a life worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10)—a faithful and fruitful life that honours and pleases Him (see Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:1). Believers are to live with integrity as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8)—letting their “good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise [our] heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16 nlt). (K.T. Sim Insight, Our Daily Bread 1st April 2026)
As a seasoned employee in the corporate sector, I have both been interviewed and have interviewed. There are generally a few rules we adhere to for interviews. One is to dress properly and sit appropriately (in terms of posture) during the interview. The other is of course to be able to articulate well the things we wrote in our resume. So only write points that we genuinely know or had experienced. Further, always be prepared for forward-looking questions like how you see yourself in 5 years’ time and hypothetical problem-solving questions.
However, one of the things we should all be aware of is never to be drawn into a discussion on how your current employer treats you. Instead, focus on your drive and ambition to learn more or gain greater exposure. It’s a big “no no” to say negative things about your present employer. Lastly, but not the least, don’t ask about the remuneration package that is on the table at the first interview. Your expected salary is usually already known to your prospective employer. If they can’t afford you, they wouldn’t have called you.
It is interesting to note that Leslie Koh highlighted a candidate’s refusal at a job interview to speak about her possible conflict with her employer as part of our integrity in God. It was actually a smart move by the canditate but I think the integrity part goes beyond job interviews. I believe that, as believers in Christ, we should not, as a rule, speak bad about others in their absence. First, they are not there to defend themselves. Secondly, there could be a perspective for their seemingly “bad behaviour” that we may not be aware of.
Most importantly, how we speak of others will reflect on us as believers in Christ. We have a duty and responsibility to glorify His name, to live honourable and blameless lives. We should instead let our good deeds shine for all to see. I think it is a worst ever scenario if we are ever known as Christians who bad-mouth or gossip against others. Or we are Christians, yet we are vindictive and manipulative or we intentionally do certain things to hurt others. How are we then different from the world?
Ronnie's Thoughts 