The reason many people have trouble prospering is a simple lack of integrity, a lack of truthfulness. Think about it for a minute: We have all told lies; we have all struggled with whether to take the heat that being completely honest will eventually bring. Being honest means reporting all our income at tax time, communicating openly with family, not stealing from the office and following through on appointments and promises. The Bible talks about “the little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song of Solomon 2:15, NKJV). The small violations against our government, our family, our employer and our relationships begin a pattern of dishonesty.

I am not saying you must be perfect; none of us is. But you have to watch the little things. If you goof off at work, you are stealing; that is a lack of honesty. If you take a sick day and you aren’t sick, that is stealing. If you say bad things about your manager to someone other than your manager, you are stealing, because you are stealing his ability to lead, cutting productivity and, worst of all, you have become just another boring gossip.

Take control of your life by simply realizing it is worth the trouble to become the person you know God made you to be. The aphorism goes like this: “Work like it all depends on you and pray like it all depends on God.” Taking responsibility not only for your mistakes so you don’t repeat them, but taking responsibility for making whatever change is necessary to get where you should go is of vital value in becoming a person who prospers.