“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”

Note that in the verse from Psalm 78, it mentions David’s integrity of heart first, his skillful hands second.  The primary requirement for excellence in leadership is integrity.  Integrity coming from the Latin word integer, meaning whole or complete. 

What makes a person whole or complete when they have integrity? Let’s use analogy.

A building is described as having integrity when it has been engineered and designed excellently. There is no threat of it falling because all of the elements of its construction are sound, and they have been assembled in their right order.

The elements that make up the human person’s soul are either virtues or vices.  A man of integrity is one who strives to live out all the virtues.  It’s not good enough to be excellent in patience, while at the same time violating the virtue of chastity.  To be excellent in fortitude, while failing to be excellent in humility.

These virtues are not merely outward performances when people are looking.  They are the foundational essence of who the man is.  A man may be able to pretend he is virtuous, have the appearance of integrity, but like a building whose exterior may be beautiful, will eventually lead to fall with shoddy foundation.

Virtue is established by a repetitive act of the will.  It is a practice.  As a coach, I would tell my players, practice is meant for failure.  You give it your all so when it comes time to play, you are ready.  The same applies to virtue.  We will all fall.  We are sinful creatures.  But with God’s Grace, a contrite heart and an intention to sin no more, our virtue builds and builds until Our Lord can say of us, like he said of David; we are men after His own heart.