Happy New Year, and welcome to another episode of Perspective For Today.
We have been discussing what it means to be a success. Not just a success in the eyes of the world, but being a success for the kingdom. There are many qualities of a successful person and we have already discussed a few. But one that should be right at the top of your list is integrity.
I didn’t feel that the dictionary did integrity justice. With some of the words that the dictionary has allowed, it makes me question their integrity.
So here is what Wikipedia had to say on the subject.
Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. Integrity can stand in opposition to hypocrisy.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity
Wikipedia says right from the beginning that integrity is consistent and uncompromising. If something is consistent then it doesn’t matter whether you’re in the company of others or if you’re by yourself. Either way you will conduct yourself in a manner that is pleasing to God. Our key verse for today is
2 Corinthians 8:21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.
Your reputation is what everybody tends to believe you are.
It’s your outward appearance. But appearances can be deceiving. We may present ourselves one way at work, another way with our wife, and yet another way with our friends. We compartmentalize the way we conduct ourselves depending upon our environment. If you segment your life like that you lack integrity. In essence you are playing the hypocrite.
Your integrity is what you really are.
It is the very core of your being. Your reputation is what you let others see when you are in public. Integrity is what you are when you’re all alone with God.
An honorable man or woman is only as good as their word. So if we make a commitment to God or to man then we need to keep that commitment.
1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
Numbers 30:2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
Have you ever just agreed to something without giving it much thought?
I know I have. It never failed, the weather would be miserable all week. I couldn’t get anything done in the yard. So I’d agree to do something with a friend. Wouldn’t you know it, the day we were going to hang out together the weather was beautiful. But, I kept my word. I honored my commitment. My friendship meant more to me than a pretty yard.
Maybe you found a legal loophole to get out of a commitment? Some unforeseen circumstances that kept you from following through on your obligation. Sometimes those circumstances were justifiable, and sometimes they weren’t. When your integrity is compromised your credibility becomes tarnished.
We all fall short, but it’s what we do after we fall that matters.
Repent and make it right with your friend or family member, and with God. Don’t just sweep it under the carpet, it will come back to haunt you eventually.
Proverbs 10:9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Integrity starts in our thought life.
We should be meditating on the Person and work of Christ. Too often our thoughts take a negative path. We allow evil to take up residency in our minds. But the truth of the matter is that a person cannot entertain evil thoughts and thoughts about the Lord Jesus at the same time. So when those thoughts that are less than Christlike enter our lives we should immediately meditate on Jesus. The following verses exemplify the very character of Christ.
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
A closer look at these characteristics should bring some clarity as to what integrity looks like in the life of a Christian.
True, means not false or unreliable, but genuine and real.
If you are genuine, then you’re not some imitation. You don’t wear a mask to hide your true identity. When people look at you they should see Christ magnified in your life. What is true in your life today should be true in your life tomorrow and every day after that. You are reliable. Just as a compass points to true north we should point to Jesus in all that we say and do.
1 Peter 1:7 So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Noble, can be seen as being morally attractive and upright.
If you are morally attractive then others will seek to imitate you. You will be the moral compass that points others to Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:21 For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.
If you are just, then you are righteous towards both God and man.
If you are on a path of righteousness then your walk should never run parallel to the ways of the world. We are trailblazers. We go where the Father calls us and we don’t seek our own way.
Matthew 5:20 says, For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Next if you are pure, then you seek that which is good and wholesome.
You are not defiled by sexual thoughts and lusts. When we talk about purity we are talking about something that is free from contamination. That contamination comes into our lives when we love the world more than we love the Father.
1 John 4:18-19 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world then the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.
We are called to think on that which is lovely.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance gives the Greek translation of the word lovely as phileo. Which means to love or to like in regards to friendship. We should always have friendly thoughts towards others, and not be antagonistic or judgmental. Try to be friends with everyone you meet. Not everyone makes friends easily, but if the love of Christ dwells in you, you can’t help but make friends. Just to be clear though, you can be friendly towards the ungodly, but you need not draw close to them, lest they drag you down with them.
1st Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Finally we are called to think about things of good report.
In today’s world it’s hard to hear a good report. Just listen to the news on the TV and you will hear nothing good about anyone or anything. It’s easy to find fault with someone and throw them under the bus. But we should always look for the good in others.
If you are looking to find fault in someone, then you are trying to portray yourself as better than them. That’s what gossip is all about. Making others look bad, so you can look good. That’s why gossip spreads so fast. Everybody wants to pile on the dirt so that they can feel good about themselves.
If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything.
Proverbs 16:28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
Integrity takes commitment, perseverance and determination.
We are called to be a people of high moral standards. If we compromise just one of those moral precepts then our integrity is in question. We need to be consistent in our daily walk, and always ask, what would Jesus do?
This brings us to the end of another episode of Perspective For Today. I’d like to thank you for listening and may God bless you always.