[UNKNOWN]: Oh, yeah!
[SPEAKER_00]: Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Power Being Relentless Ethical Podcast.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Michael Hanks.
[SPEAKER_00]: In today, we're going to be talking about ethical endurance, because we live in a world that worships speed.
[SPEAKER_00]: We're surrounded by stories of overnight success, instant gratification, quick winds,
[SPEAKER_00]: When we face difficult paths, the temptation to take a shortcut, often whispers in our ears.
[SPEAKER_00]: But shortcuts come with a cost.
[SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes, one that's unseen until much later, today we'll look closely at why of the clonderance outlast every fleeting walk around.
[SPEAKER_00]: You'll hear stories of individuals, both well-known and ordinary, who stayed the course.
[SPEAKER_00]: insights from the wisdom of scripture and practical guidance for building a life of unbreakable integrity.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, let's start off with defining what I mean about ethical endurance.
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.
[SPEAKER_00]: Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship adversity, right?
[SPEAKER_00]: So, when we add ethics, we're talking about the stamina required to do the right thing over the long haul.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let me ask you, can you recall a time you've faced a moral crossroads?
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you had to work when a colleague suggested cutting a quarter to be the deadline, or perhaps in your personal life when telling a small I, would have spared you embarrassment.
[SPEAKER_00]: Shortcuts like these always seem appealing because they promise relief, but relief is not the same as peace.
[SPEAKER_00]: Taking a shortcut.
[SPEAKER_00]: undermines the very foundation of who you are.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like building a house on sand.
[SPEAKER_00]: Might go up quickly, but it won't last through life storms.
[SPEAKER_00]: True ethical endurance is about the slow, sometimes grilling work of laying your life's foundation on solid rock, even when no one is watching.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's about playing the long game, trusting the playoff will come,
[SPEAKER_00]: in the as of the world, then certainly in the eyes of God.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's look at Scripture.
[SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 109 says, whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.
[SPEAKER_00]: Notice the words securely.
[SPEAKER_00]: The author does it promise the path that integrity will be easy.
[SPEAKER_00]: fast or even widely admired, but the reward is deeply security, knowing that you walk in truth, a pollen courage isn't in Galatians 6.9, so let us not grow weary in doing what is right, but we will reap a harvest time if we do not give up.
[SPEAKER_00]: This first captures exactly what it means to be relapsed.
[SPEAKER_00]: Doing the right thing can get tiring.
[SPEAKER_00]: The world might
[SPEAKER_00]: It might seem like those who cut corners are ahead, but Paul reminds us, God's promises are harvest if we never give up.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's look at the book of Daniel.
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, we found three men.
[SPEAKER_00]: Shadrat, B-Shack, and a bed and a go.
[SPEAKER_00]: facing a trial.
[SPEAKER_00]: And Daniel chapter three verses 16 through 18, these men refused to bow and worship an idol declaring, if our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of a blazing flower, but if not, be it known to you, O King that we will not serve your gods.
[SPEAKER_00]: They stood with unwavering ethical endurance, even at the threat of death.
[SPEAKER_00]: Their reward wasn't just deliverance from the fire,
[SPEAKER_00]: but the enduring witness of faithfulness that has inspired generations.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's take a journey through history and real life.
[SPEAKER_00]: All right.
[SPEAKER_00]: In stories, they're just, you know, they drive home while playing the long-groom matters, all right.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's look at St. Thomas Moore.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's how Lord Chancellor of England more faced intense pressure for King Henry.
[SPEAKER_00]: King Henry the 8th is to endorse his claim over the church.
[SPEAKER_00]: The shortcut swearing out and keep everything, power, status, even his life.
[SPEAKER_00]: But more could not violate his conscience.
[SPEAKER_00]: He was imprisoned for a year and ultimately executed.
[SPEAKER_00]: More than integrity has outlasted kings and kingdoms.
[SPEAKER_00]: He is remembered across centuries for his courage to stand firm.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, let's talk about somebody from the world of business.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, Kathy built his company on strong Christian values, refusing to open restaurants on Sundays, which at that time seemed like a foolish business move.
[SPEAKER_00]: Over the years, he faced criticism and lost out on a weekend revenue, but by prioritizing his principles about profit, Kathy's ethical nerds allowed his legacy to grow far beyond chicken sandwiches, building a loyal workforce, meaningful brand, and a charitable company culture.
[SPEAKER_00]: Over time, that kind of steadfastness.
[SPEAKER_00]: is what customers and employees remember respected in model.
[SPEAKER_00]: So when I think of Chick-fil-A, guys, you know what I think of when the Bible tells us, press down, shaking together and overfailing.
[SPEAKER_00]: Because here's the deal.
[SPEAKER_00]: Think about it.
[SPEAKER_00]: Every time you go to Chick-fil-A, it don't even matter what state I'm in, there's always a lot of traffic.
[SPEAKER_00]: There's always a lot of traffic.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're flooded.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, they may not be open on Sunday, yes, they're losing money, but you know what, they're sticking to their values.
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's why they're so successful because they put their Christian values first.
[SPEAKER_00]: They put Jesus first and think about it.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's always full, there's always customers.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's look at even sports, okay?
[SPEAKER_00]: Aircladella and immortalized in the film, Chariots of Fire was a Scottish runner and about Christian in the 1924 Olympics.
[SPEAKER_00]: He refused to run his best race.
[SPEAKER_00]: The 100 meters, because it was scheduled for Sunday.
[SPEAKER_00]: This decision cost him the event.
[SPEAKER_00]: He was favored to win.
[SPEAKER_00]: People thought he was crazy wasting his one shot at gold.
[SPEAKER_00]: However, he stayed true to his principles.
[SPEAKER_00]: He trained for another race, the 400 meters, and not only competed, he won gold and set the world record.
[SPEAKER_00]: Even more so, his witness of conviction inspired millions.
[SPEAKER_00]: He played the long gang value and faithfulness over fleeting fame.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you know why people?
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's why I'll go back to Chick-fil-A here too, and a lot of these stories I shared.
[SPEAKER_00]: These people are like courage.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's all it is.
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of times, you know, you think about these restaurants, we got to say, oh, seven days a week, we've got to make money, we've got to make money.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're so scared that they're going to fail.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're so scared that somebody's going to make, you know, a dollar more than them.
[SPEAKER_00]: But check the light, they don't have that fear.
[SPEAKER_00]: They don't have that fear.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're open to have excellent customer service.
[SPEAKER_00]: They train their people.
[SPEAKER_00]: They treat their people well.
[SPEAKER_00]: They pay their people well.
[SPEAKER_00]: And also, they give them that Sunday off.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, they're not worried about their profits and how things are going to stay open.
[SPEAKER_00]: Because they know how big God is now.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not setting here speaking on Chick-fil-A's behalf.
[SPEAKER_00]: And if I've said something that's not true, you feel free to reach out to me and correct me.
[SPEAKER_00]: But I've always respected Chick-fil-A for what they've done because they stay true to their values.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, it's a business.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, they make money.
[SPEAKER_00]: However, they don't put that money over God.
[SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes endurance is a lifetime commitment, not just a single moment.
[SPEAKER_00]: Consider Nelson Mandela, not only a Catholic saint, his story resonates across humanity for decades, Mandela refused to abandon his principles and exchange for comfort or speedy release from prison.
[SPEAKER_00]: In his long journey toward reconciliation and democracy, he demonstrated that lasting changes forever, that lasting change is never achieved by cutting corners, but through unyielding faithfulness.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's listen to a few more words from Scripture.
[SPEAKER_00]: James won 12 reads, blessed is anyone who enjoys temptations.
[SPEAKER_00]: Such a one has to detest and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised of those who love him.
[SPEAKER_00]: God sees your endurance.
[SPEAKER_00]: Even when it's rewarding or recognized by the world, God sees you, God sees you.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I know, listen, like I just said,
[SPEAKER_00]: A lot of times when you're living for Christ, it's not gonna be rewarded or recognized by the world.
[SPEAKER_00]: But God sees you, and it may not seem like things are working out, but if you just stay the course and keep God first, keep focusing on Jesus.
[SPEAKER_00]: I promise you, things will work out.
[SPEAKER_00]: And when that harvest comes, it's gonna be bigger than you can imagine.
[SPEAKER_00]: Hebrews chapter 12 verses one through two encourages us.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let us run with perseverance, the race, that is set before us, looking to Jesus.
[SPEAKER_00]: the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ethical endurance is a daily race, not a sprint, built a lifelong marathon.
[SPEAKER_00]: We keep moving forward, step by step, trusting in God's strength.
[SPEAKER_00]: What about challenges?
[SPEAKER_00]: In Duranton, Nizi, there are moments when you feel tired, isolate, or even defeated.
[SPEAKER_00]: These rewards can seem distant.
[SPEAKER_00]: While consequences for doing right comes fast and close.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's break down some practical ways to help this develop this kind of stamina.
[SPEAKER_00]: Number one, name your nine negotiables.
[SPEAKER_00]: Know and write your core values and ethical lines before testing comes.
[SPEAKER_00]: Listen, you've got to have a set of core values that you will not negotiate.
[SPEAKER_00]: when pressurizes, you won't have to scramble, okay?
[SPEAKER_00]: You'll already know who you are.
[SPEAKER_00]: Number two, embrace the late gratification.
[SPEAKER_00]: Meditate on stories of innurance, both scriptural and modern, and remember the truth behind Proverbs 13-11, wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it.
[SPEAKER_00]: True reward comes with time, discipline and patience.
[SPEAKER_00]: three, sick wisdom and counsel.
[SPEAKER_00]: Build a community with those who value integrity, find mentors who holds you accountable.
[SPEAKER_00]: Remember, Proverbs 27, 17, iron sharpens iron and one person sharpens the wits of another.
[SPEAKER_00]: Four, lean on grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: There will be times you grow tired, moments when you're will power falters.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's when grace steps in, pray for strength this Christ did in the Garden of Guest Enemy.
[SPEAKER_00]: Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's Luke chapter 22 verse 42.
[SPEAKER_00]: Five.
[SPEAKER_00]: Celebrate the Weans.
[SPEAKER_00]: Many acts of endurance are invisible, but as Matthew six, four promises, your father, who sees in secret will reward you.
[SPEAKER_00]: And listen, there's countless stories, okay?
[SPEAKER_00]: Parents sacrifice for their children.
[SPEAKER_00]: Doctors speaking out about unsafe practices.
[SPEAKER_00]: Whistleblowers, risking careers.
[SPEAKER_00]: Friends sticking by each other through dark times.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ethical endurance is often unsung, but it transforms the world, one decision at a time.
[SPEAKER_00]: What happens if you stumble?
[SPEAKER_00]: If you fall in before, maybe you took a shortcut, but try to value, or simply gave in to pressure.
[SPEAKER_00]: The message of the gospel is that Jesus meets you there.
[SPEAKER_00]: In John 21, the risen Christ restores Peter, even after he denied him three times.
[SPEAKER_00]: Christ invitation is not to dwell on the past mistakes, but to step forward and follow him into a new journey of integrity.
[SPEAKER_00]: And guys, as we come to an end here, let's spend a few moments to reflect quietly.
[SPEAKER_00]: And then I'll lead us in a prayer, wherever you're listening, maybe you're driving walkin or sitting at home, pulse here and bring God before you to those areas of life where you're tempted to cut corners or feel weary in doing right.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, that's great.
[SPEAKER_00]: Lord God, you are steadfast, faithful and true.
[SPEAKER_00]: You see what no one else sees.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, our hearts are better than know ourselves.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for the witnesses of saints in everyday heroes who have shown us what it means to an early integrity.
[SPEAKER_00]: Grant us strength as we face moments of temptation when shortcuts seem easier the world urges us to give in.
[SPEAKER_00]: Help us.
[SPEAKER_00]: Remember that quite faithfulness builds lasting peace and feels your heart was joy.
[SPEAKER_00]: Remind us that your lives are not measured by the speed, but by faithfulness to you and others.
[SPEAKER_00]: May we have endurance when the journey gets long, wisdom when the path is unclear, encourage to stand firm, habit-shifting guides.
[SPEAKER_00]: For those listening who feel they've failed,
[SPEAKER_00]: Let them know your mercy is always new, give them the humility to seek forgiveness and perseverance to start again.
[SPEAKER_00]: Bless us with companions and mentors who challenge us to live better and give us gentle hearts to support those around us.
[SPEAKER_00]: Lord, reward our unseen sacrifices, just as you promise.
[SPEAKER_00]: Most of all help us to keep our eyes fixed on you, the pioneer and perfect of our faith.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let us, like the saints, run the race with perseverance, finishing strong for your glory.
[SPEAKER_00]: We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, amen.
[SPEAKER_00]: Guys, thanks so much for joining today.
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't forget to add me.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's Michael and he's published on their own Facebook.
[SPEAKER_00]: May your journey be marked with patient, endurance, courageous integrity, and the joy that comes from walking securely before God stays strong, keep your integrity and act and never grow weary and doing what is right.
[SPEAKER_00]: We'll see you next time.