Living With Integrity Every Day

Proverbs 11:3

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

What is integrity?  What are some of the characteristics of a person of integrity?  Let's start there.  They are:

• Honest/ Trustworthy
• They do what they say.
• They don't partake in gossip and slander.
• Honorable
• Patient
• Understanding

That's a good place to get started, but let's look at how Solomon defines integrity in the verse above:

Integrity means to keep and honor God's commands.

If we look at any list like the one above to describe someone with integrity I think this definition would sum up every one of them.  Have you ever known an atheist or a humanist that you would describe as having integrity?  Or would you generally say that they most often display duplicity- meaning that they are inconsistent in what they say, and how they apply what they say to themselves and others?

Using Solomon's definition of integrity explains why so many Christians struggle with living their faith; and also understanding their purpose/calling/mission in life.  Solomon is saying that the upright person is guided by God's Word.  How often do we let God's Word and the Ten Commandments guide us?  We run into problems when we are unfaithful, trying to guide ourselves.  

Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  

I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.  

I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.  

Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.  

Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.  

The wicked set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

This Psalmist clearly understood what Solomon was saying above.  Clearly he was an upright man.  How many times in the eight verses here does he reference God's Word or God's laws.  This is what it means to be upright and guided by integrity.  Every time we have a question for God we need to search the Scriptures for God's answer to that question.  This is why prayer needs to be accompanied by studying God's Word daily.  Why would you talk to God and then not let Him speak back?  The Bible is how He speaks to us today.  He doesn't talk to us like He did with the apostles and the prophets of the Old Testament.  His response to our prayers is in His Word, the Bible.

One of the biggest problems people face is wanting God's will to line up with their desires.  They want what they want; so instead of letting God's Word be "a lamp to their feet and a light for their path" they try to make God's Word say what they want it to say.  They take verses out of context, they change the wording of verses, they liberally interpret Scripture to mean whatever they need it to mean.  These are dangerous practices.  These people are the unfaithful who are destroyed by their duplicity.  God warns:

Revelation 22:18-19

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:  

If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

God takes His word seriously and so should we.  We have a loving God who speaks to us daily.  He wants to have conversations with us.  That's why He has given us His Word.  You won't get this from any man-made and false god:  allah, Buddha, Brahma, self, nature, etc.  No false god loves.  Only the true God, God almighty creator of heaven and earth, God of the Bible loves.  It is only the true God who sent His Son to earth to pay the price for the sins of all people, of all time.  

1 John 4:9-10

This is how God showed His love among us:  He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.

This is love:  not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God bless

Jason Fredrick