INTEGRITY

Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

“A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.”

Baltasar Gracian

 

“Calamity is the test of integrity.”

Samuel Richardson

 

“Let your words be the genuine picture of your heart. “

John Wesley

 

“Integrity is keeping my commitments even if the circumstances when I made those commitments have changed.”

David Jeremiah

 

“Confidence on the outside begins by living with integrity on the inside.”

Anonymous

 

Probably one of the rarest character traits in our world today is “Integrity.” It’s not very often we recognize it in others or ourselves. It is almost non-existent in the world of politics. Leaders in the business world often seem to lack this quality as well. Whenever a politician is caught in a scandal, a CEO has mismanaged funds of a corporation or a pastor confesses he has been involved in inappropriate behavior we seem to wonder what has happened to the godly character trait of integrity.

 

The dictionary defines integrity as, adherence to moral and ethical principles, soundness of moral character or honesty. For the Christian, this definition could be applied and mean that we adhere to the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus Christ. As we grow in faith and maturity we would have a sound moral character because we would be led and taught by the Holy Spirit. Our integrity comes from our obedience to the Word of God and submission to the Holy Spirit as He leads us in our lives each day. Christians are called to be honest with themselves, others and the Lord. As we establish and live out integrity in our lives our heart remains soft and tender and sensitive. Without integrity, our hearts become hard as stone.

 

There are many spiritual disciplines that help us grow as Christians but integrity is the key to true spiritual growth and maturity. Bible study in critical in the Christians life, but without integrity it can turn into simply accumulation of knowledge. Prayer is also necessary in the Christian’s life, but without integrity prayer can become a mechanical activity or a practice of just petitioning the Lord for what you desire to have. Serving others is also an expression of a Christian with integrity, but without integrity it becomes an activity that feeds self-righteousness and draws attention to oneself. Fellowship is yet another necessary discipline for the Believer, but without integrity it becomes either a duty to be done or a process of seeking friends with similar interests, rather than a ministry of serving and being served with people of a variety of interests and personalities.

 

Integrity could be defined as being absolutely honest with yourself and with the Lord. Believe it or not many of us have a hard time being honest with ourselves. We tend to either gloss over our imperfections or dwell much too long upon them. Sometimes we fail to see our limitations and weaknesses and can be overbearing at times because we’re not honest with ourselves. Usually it follows that if you’re not honest with yourself, then you’re not going to be honest with your Heavenly Father either.

 

Another issue that can happen with Christians many times is they fail to have internal integrity because they rely upon external integrity. External integrity is the integrity we think we have because of the things we do or the people we hang around with. Christians often assume that since they go to church, attend Bible studies and have Christian friends, they have integrity. But this is false integrity. True integrity resides in the heart of the believer because of their honesty with themselves and the Lord. If we rely upon this false integrity, external integrity, we are, as Louis B. Smedes says, “moral cadavers” because we are relying upon an appearance of integrity. True integrity of the heart is established in our hearts and minds as we live and pattern our lives after Jesus Christ.

 

Sometimes we play games as Christians and entertain thoughts and temptations in our hearts and minds. We know these sinful actions won’t condemn us to hell and that we can always confess them to the Lord, but these actions not only grieve the Holy Spirit and taint our relationship with our Heavenly Father; they drain the integrity from our soul. In the New Testament, integrity is often referred to as “peace in the heart” or “walking worthy” and if we are playing these games internally we are in no way walking worthy and we do not possess peace in our hearts and souls. We do not have integrity.

 

Psalms 26 is an excellent chapter of the Bible to study the value of living a life of integrity. In this chapter David shares some dramatic observations concerning integrity in His own life. While we may call into question his statements of integrity because of his sin with Bathsheba, we must make sure we read other verses in this chapter where he demonstrates humble submission before the Lord. We must also remember that like us today, God not only forgives our sins once we repent and confess, He does not hold them against us after we do so.

 

David writes in the first verses of this chapter, “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.” David declares in these verses that he wishes to be vindicated for he has lived a blameless life as he has trusted in the Lord. David knew the Lord rewards those who walk blameless in their life and he also knew that God wipes the slate clean of past wrongdoing if confession and repentance take place. He is so confident of God’s grace and forgiveness as well as his walk that he asks God to test him, to examine his heart and mind for any wrongdoing. Integrity of heart involves having a clear conscious and living that way as much as possible. Imagine living your life with no regrets because you have kept nothing from the Lord that needs to be confessed. David was aware of God’s love in his life and his own commitment to the Word of God.

 

In the next verses we see David writing, “I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.” David gives us some of the boundaries for walking a life of integrity. While we should reach out to non-believers and even extend a hand of friendship, if they are living a wicked and evil life we need to have boundaries in our relationship with them. This will preserve our integrity. David shares his love for the house of Lord in the next verse, “I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells.” Then he makes a humble request regarding God’s judgment of him. “Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.” He substantiates his position of integrity once again in the next few verses. “But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.”

 

How can we develop integrity? Louis B. Smedes recommends five crucial steps.

 

First, we must accept the raw materials that God has given us and write our own story. Often we wish God had made us different or given us talents or skills that we don’t possess, but we need to accept the unique way God created us. There is no one that has ever lived or will ever live that will be exactly like us. We have imperfections and weaknesses but we must consider that God placed those there for a purpose. He gave us specific talents and gifts that He desires to use to allow us to have a special and unique function in life, in our church and in the relationships we have. Once we are honest with ourselves and accept the raw materials God has blessed us with we will be on our way to developing integrity in our lives.

 

Secondly we need to own the bad chapters of the story we have already written. Paul was an amazing man. He wrote most of the New Testament, was a great church leader, writer and evangelist, but he also had some very bad chapters in his life story. Before accepting Christ as his Savior he persecuted the Christians and approved of the killing of Steven a follower of Christ (Acts 7:57-8:1). All of us have chapters in our life story that we wish we had never written. We have all done things we are ashamed of or wish we had done much better. We need to accept the fact that these are chapters of our life that took place and own them, BUT we should NOT let them own us. We can accept our past for what it is, ask God for forgiveness and place them in our story with the context of a proper perspective. The proper perspective is that we are not living that way any more and we are striving, with God’s help to write new chapters in our life that reflect His will for our lives. Again, and this is VERY important, we must own the bad chapters, but not let them own us.

 

Thirdly we should create and unabridged consciousness of our lives. An abridged book does not have all the material of the original unabridged book. Things are conveniently left out to portray the basic story by ignoring certain details. Louis B. Smedes again is telling us not to ignore portions of our memories and experiences. Remembering past mistakes helps us in future decisions by reminding us we are not perfect and must rely upon the Lord for guidance. If we start deleting portions of our lives from our consciousness we are not being honest with who we were and who we have become. We are attempting to write a story that leaves out details so we can portray or perceive ourselves in a certain way; this is not honest and does not encourage integrity to grow in our lives.

 

Fourthly we are encouraged by Mr. Smedes to be in touch with our calling. We as Christians have a calling on our lies that we should seek. Numerous verses speak of the calling Christians have.

 

Ephesians 4:1-2

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

 

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

 

Hebrews 3:1-2

“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”

 

2 Peter 1:10

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.”

 

Finally we need to make sure that our story is part of God’s story. God’s story is saving people, having a relationship with them, and challenging them to become holy. As we live as servants of Jesus Christ our story should be based on becoming more like Him. If we are seeking other paths than this, our story will not be in alignment with God’s story. We will be out of the will of God and we will be on very shaky ground.

 

Integrity is not a possession we acquire. It is a lifestyle and reputation that exists only as long as we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. You can have a reputation of integrity, but it is only real integrity if it is based on honesty with yourself and the Lord. Integrity is not about talking the truth, but walking the truth. It’s not about talking about the truth; it’s about living the truth.

 

There are so many powerful reasons to make ourselves believe what we appear to be, or for us to pretend to be what other people expect us to be. Let’s be honest with God and ourselves and seek to be who He wants us to be, a person of integrity!

 

“A life lived with integrity – even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune is a shinning star in whose light others may follow in the years to come.”

Denis Waitley