If you do a Google search on the word integrity, you will read things like: the quality of being honest, having strong moral principles or moral uprightness. I believe integrity to be the way someone is when no one is watching. If you are one way in public but are different in private, no one will trust you. Integrity is when your public life matches up with your private life.
As you read through the Bible, we come to understand the importance of telling and living the truth. In the book of Proverbs 6, we read a list of what the Lord hates. Each example that is listed in this passage has to do with integrity. The reason for this is because truth is one of God's attributes. He is the Truth. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life." God and dishonesty do not operate in the same room. Also, we read in John 8:44 that the devil, is the "father of all lies". Therefore, if a person is living in dishonesty, they are in a sense giving birth to death and giving ground to the enemy. If a person is not walking in integrity, then they are probably not walking with the Lord.
Integrity is something that takes a person a lifetime to achieve, but only takes a moment to destroy. Integrity is built over a lifetime of living in and walking with the truth. It is claiming what David said in Psalm 101:2, "I will walk in my house with a blameless heart." God desires for us to be the same person in public and in private.
Imagine with me. Imagine if I were to fall into a sin that would severely damage my reputation as a follower of Christ, as a husband and dad and as a leader in the church. The affects of one fleeting moment would have a ripple affect that would throw away years of service and integrity. It would take me a long time to rebuild the trust of my family, friends and our community. It would be as if I were to take a pillow outside on a windy day, cut it in half and let the feathers blow all over town. Then, go out later and try to gather up all the feathers to put my pillow back together. There is no way. The damage would already be done.
In conclusion, how does a person walk in integrity and avoid driving in a ditch? It takes tenacity. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit at work in a person's life. It also takes accountability. It is important to have people in your life who will ask you the tough questions. People who love you enough to point out your blind spots. Even in this setting of accountability, honesty is the key. If you can't be honest with yourself and close friends, then you will surely wind up in a place of failure. In a world that is becoming increasingly dishonest, may our lives be marked with the Truth. May our private lives match our public, to the honor and glory of God.
Imagine with me. Imagine if I were to fall into a sin that would severely damage my reputation as a follower of Christ, as a husband and dad and as a leader in the church. The affects of one fleeting moment would have a ripple affect that would throw away years of service and integrity. It would take me a long time to rebuild the trust of my family, friends and our community. It would be as if I were to take a pillow outside on a windy day, cut it in half and let the feathers blow all over town. Then, go out later and try to gather up all the feathers to put my pillow back together. There is no way. The damage would already be done.
In conclusion, how does a person walk in integrity and avoid driving in a ditch? It takes tenacity. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit at work in a person's life. It also takes accountability. It is important to have people in your life who will ask you the tough questions. People who love you enough to point out your blind spots. Even in this setting of accountability, honesty is the key. If you can't be honest with yourself and close friends, then you will surely wind up in a place of failure. In a world that is becoming increasingly dishonest, may our lives be marked with the Truth. May our private lives match our public, to the honor and glory of God.
Thanks for being so amazing and wording things in such a way that it is easily understood and applied.
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
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