Integrity is the foundation of greatness: Dr Samuel Odewunmi on the Kingdom Biz Hub

Integrity is not a private matter for Christians in business. It is the foundation that lasting success, healthy economies and the reputation of the church are built on. That was the message on Christian business integrity from Dr Samuel Odewunmi at the Kingdom Biz Hub on Monday 26 October.

Dr Samuel is a Lecturer in Economics at the University of Exeter and Pastor of RCCG Glory of God, the church next door to Rediscover Church. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, he researches how stronger institutions can speed up economic growth in developing countries, especially in Africa.

Speaking on Teams to business owners and leaders, he chose a topic where his research and his preaching meet. “As a pastor, we have that mandate to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to teach his principles,” he said. “He has called us to be the salt and the light of the world.”

What integrity means

Samuel began with Merriam-Webster: integrity means having strong moral principles, being completely honest, and keeping your word, even when no one is watching.

“Integrity is the foundation upon which greatness is built,” he said. “Image is what people think we are, but integrity is what we really are.” He defined it as choosing to do what is right before God, regardless of who is watching or what it will cost you.

He pointed to Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who taught strong moral principles but did not observe them. By contrast, Jesus described Nathanael as a man in whom there was no deceit (John 1:47).

Honest weights and honest books

For business leaders, Samuel said, integrity starts with money. He read Leviticus 19:35–36, where God tells Israel to keep honest scales, weights and measures. In other words, do not cheat customers or profit from them without being transparent.

He also read 2 Kings 12:15. The supervisors of a temple building project were trusted with public money, and no accounting was required from them “because they were honest and trustworthy men”.

That standard reaches into tax returns and accounts too. Some schemes may be legal, he said, but the question for a child of God is whether they conform to the character of Christ.

Integrity also covers our words. Quoting Matthew 5:37, “let your yes be yes and your no be no”, he urged listeners to keep their promises. “It is better to under-promise and over-deliver.”

Skill is not enough

Psalm 78:72 says David shepherded Israel with integrity of heart and skilful hands. Samuel noted that the world has no shortage of skill or smooth operators. “What the world lacks now is integrity.”

He quoted Warren Buffett, who looks for three qualities when hiring: intelligence, energy and integrity. Without the last, Buffett says, the first two do not matter.

Samuel challenged the idea that a leader’s private life is nobody’s business as long as they perform. If the church embraces integrity, he said, it rebuilds trust and becomes a voice that leaders want to hear. Integrity does not mean being perfect. When we get it wrong, we acknowledge the mistake, take responsibility, make restitution where possible and repent.

Trust grows a business

Alongside innovation, Samuel said, research shows that trust is a major driver of business growth. Samuel told the story of a young Christian property investor in the north of England who began with very little.

An elder at his church lent him the cash to buy a property at auction. After refurbishing and selling it, the investor returned the money and shared the profit, as agreed, even though the elder tried to refuse it. Today he owns many properties. Church members now bring him funds to invest, often without asking for paperwork.

“What helped him wasn’t just the skilfulness of his hand,” Samuel said. “It is integrity.”

How to build Christian business integrity

Samuel closed his talk with four practical steps.

1. Study and do the word. Proverbs, Psalms and Job are full of business principles. He noted that scripture even calls for workers to be paid on the day their wages are due.
2. Find accountability. Share a weakness, such as a tendency to exaggerate, with a trusted brother, sister or elder who can pray with you and sharpen you.
3. Set boundaries in advance. Write down your values: what you will do, what you won’t, and what you are willing to sacrifice to honour God. Daniel resolved not to defile himself before the temptation came. “The world says every man has a price,” Samuel said. “But our price has been paid by the blood of Jesus Christ.”
4. Pray. Ask God for the grace to be truthful and faithful, so that what we say and what we do are the same.

Integrity and the economy

Asked by host Helen Lami how this plays out in his economics teaching, Samuel shared research from his development economics course. He pointed to Why is Africa Poor? by MIT economist Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson. The paper argues that a nation’s poverty is shaped by its political and economic institutions.

He said the fastest way to help a poor country is not more reform programmes or foreign aid, but stopping the leakage of corruption. In Nigeria, he said, more than 400 billion US dollars has been traced as stolen by officials over the past 40 years. Much of it sits in New York, Dubai or Switzerland, while the communities it came from lack clean water, electricity and gas.

“If we were to help Africa, or any other poor country, the first thing to fix is the morality,” he said. “Righteousness exalts a nation.”

A good name

Kingdom Biz co-founder Al Whitmoor-Pryer said the talk echoed what he has always believed in business. “Your name is everything. Our companies have grown because people trust what Heather and I say. If we say we’re going to do it, we do it.”

Samuel replied with Proverbs 22:1: a good name is more desirable than great riches. “If there is any wealth we want to transfer to our children, one of them will be our name.”

Helen recalled how honesty with business partners carried her through Covid. Guests involved in overseas mission shared how they now account for every penny and insist on transparency and long-term plans. One guest said the line that stayed with him most was simple: under-promise and over-deliver.

Hear Dr Samuel at the conference

Dr Samuel is one of the speakers at the Rediscover Business & Leadership Conference on Saturday 14 November 2026 at the Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel. His session, Launch into the deep (Luke 5:4), will take these themes further. The conference opens with a networking evening on Friday 13 November.

Find out more and book your place at rediscoverbusinessconference.co.uk.

The Kingdom Biz Hub meets online on Monday evenings on Microsoft Teams. Find out more at rediscoverchurch.com/kingdombusiness.