Integrity
embraces one’s deepest desire to demonstrate love for God by adhering, come
what may, to God’s Word (John. 14:15). However,
as we shall see, integrity is more than a desire to walk righteously. It
involves understanding (Job 28:28), and the doing of God’s Word.
Honesty
is a virtue, akin to integrity, both being, truly, an absolute. Either one has
it, or one does not. In a speech on honesty, an example was given of reusing
uncanceled postage stamps. One can rationalize; however, it is not the huge
postal system one is defying, but God.
In truth, there is no little sin (James 2:10). We should always remember, “He that is faithful in that which is least
is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
much” (Luke16:10).
The Lord gives us inspiring examples of
men who walked with integrity, including Job, Daniel, and the three privileged
Hebrews in the kings court, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, who not being “pleasers
of men,” said in Daniel 3:16-18 “… O
Nebuchadnezzar, your question hardly needs an answer in this matter. If it is so, our God, whom we serve, is able
to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your
hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto you, O king, that
we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set
up.”
As it turned out, they were delivered
showing the king and us God’s great power. This demonstration of integrity was
fortified by a strong foundation of faith; for they knew in their hearts, they
would be delivered and rewarded for their faithfulness, whether in this life,
or the next.
When we walk with integrity in seemingly
insignificant ways, our lives are changed, because doing the will of God is the
only way to grow in His Spirit (John 14:23). We must practice what we
believe. It is for this reason we are
told in Romans 14:20-21 not to offend a brother by causing him to depart from
what he believes is God’s will, thus causing him to sin. We read, “For meat, destroy not the work of God. All things indeed
are pure; but it is evil for that man who eats with offence.”
Can one walk with integrity, and be
misinformed or unaware of the fullness of God’s Word? Romans 14:6 indicates when one is being
misinformed he does not violate
generally accepted standards of morality.
For instance, drinking in moderation may be lawful, yet there may be one
who sees it differently, and refrains from drinking in his integrity. This is
admirable, and necessary as was noted in Romans 14:20.
When one has integrity, one is complete.
However, integrity can be lost through disobedience, even though integrity
embraces an abiding commitment to do only the Lord’s will. Remember the sobering example of the man of
God who was instructed by God to neither eat nor drink on his mission to speak
to the king, and how he told the king in 1 Kings
13:8 “….If
you will give me half of your house, I will not go in with you, neither will I
eat bread nor drink water in this place.” Yet being deceived, on his
journey home he did eat and drink, sinning against the Lord, and was punished
by death.
Integrity is an important quality, and the
Lord takes note of it. We are given many inspiring examples, like Joseph, who
told Potiphar’s wife that he could not take her and sin against the Lord (Genesis
39.9). Although he was unjustly imprisoned for his integrity, in the end, he
ruled over
In addition, in the account of Abraham and Abimelech, the
Lord demonstrated for us His care for those who have this quality. Remember how the Lord came to Abimelech in a
dream, saying, “….Behold, you are but a
dead man, for the woman whom you have
taken is another man’s wife.”
Remember Abimelech’s response and what the Lord said to him? In Gen. 20: 5-6 we read, “Said he not unto me, she is my sister? And
she, even she herself said, He is my brother: In the integrity of my heart and
innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, “Yea,
I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; for I also withheld
you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not allow you to touch her.”
The Lord delivered Abimelech from sinning
in spite of Abraham’s and Sarah’s deception.
When we walk with integrity, we are given assurance God will not turn
His face from us (Psalms 41:12).
The scriptures also teach that the worldly
are wiser than the children of light, thus being successful in their worldly
endeavors. We are told this in the parable of the unjust steward in Lu.16:8. It reads, “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely:
for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children
of light.” They are wiser because they stay focused on their
objective. For instance, Bill Clinton
coined the phrase in his successful bid for the
presidency, “It’s the economy,
stupid.” He added stupid to show that it was so
obvious, yet not readily perceived.
He was right, and won the race, because in this world, people generally
care more about what affects them.
So then, what should be the Christian’s
mantra to be successful in his spiritual race? Think about it. The answer is, “It’s obedience -----“ Just
like the economy, which was so obvious to the wise in that race, but not perceived, walking with integrity
within the precepts of the Christian faith is recklessly abandoned. It is not works for which one could boast
that matters, but obedience. Concerning works without obedience, remember Mat.7:22-23, “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast out
devils? And in Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from Me, you that work lawlessness (disobedience).” Many
go to church, profess Christ’s name, and even do many good works, yet these all
mean little without obedience to God’s will.
From our very first parents to this day,
obedience is what the Lord requires (Micah 6:8). The Lord in His wisdom has given man
this evil world to teach them a better way – trying them by fire. God knew that Job would maintain his
integrity even when unjustly treated, even as we are told by Jesus that only
when we return good for evil (being obedient) is there any merit (Matthew 5:46). To grow in God’s spirit, we must master the
small things. “For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice,
and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are
the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth”
(Zechariah. 4:10).
J.
DiCesare
“Whatsoever,” is one
of the most precious words in the Bible…There is a wonderful promise of our
Lord to His disciples as He told them that they had not chosen Him, but that He
had chosen them, “that you should go and
bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall
ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” However, there is another “whatsoever” only
two verses earlier, and these two
“whatsoevers” must be taken together.
“You are my friends,” the Lord
said, “if you do whatsoever I command
you.” We have no right to ask God
whatsoever we will unless we are doing whatsoever He commands! When we fulfill the first, He will fulfill
the second.”
From Knight’s Master Book of New
Illustrations