Integrity

By Pastor Sharron I. Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministries

July 27, 2015

Integrity is one of those core value words we don't hear much in casual conversation anymore. I remember when I was growing up I used to hear “He is a man of his word” or “She is a woman of integrity.” It had a really good, lofty feel to it. But it seemed like a nearly unattainable goal in the world I grew up in. It was what people who dressed nicely, had lots of money and higher education had—at least in my little 9 year old reasoning.

Not that I didn't dress nicely. But we definitely did not have much money when I was a kid. I didn't know that. I just knew that there were people with really nice houses and nice cars and lots of stuff we didn't have who lived a few blocks up the hill from us. Hmmmm did that mean they had integrity?

One of my little girlfriends lived up there. I lived on South Ramsey Drive. She lived on North Ramsey Drive. We had chickens in our back yard, and a goat in the yard next to the garage. She had a toaster that disappeared into the wall when you were done using it!

I remember one day I decided to go visit her. I walked up to her front door, and introduced myself---in my best British accent. When my friend's mother asked if I was from England, of course I said yes. What was I thinking!? My friend wasn't there. She would have known I wasn't telling the truth, and busted me for it right in front of her mother.

I walked back home, and apparently this woman obtained my home phone number. She had called my mother before I even reached home. My Mom questioned me about it, then walked my tush back and made me apologize, and admit I had lied. It was horribly humiliating. And I never spent time with my girlfriend again. It was a mutual thing, but mostly her mother's decision. I guess I wasn't worthy. I had no integrity.

When I was growing up I didn't hear any words about how I was perfect or special and didn't need to pretend to be anyone else. I had embarrassed the daylights out of my Mom, and she wanted to save face and make sure I never did that again. Well, it worked. I never did. But I DID develop a really great British accent later on in high school!

We can ponder whether anyone in this little story had integrity. But what's most important are the perceptions. This woman thought I was a little liar, hence I had no integrity. My mother just felt I needed to learn a lesson. She thought integrity was unrealistic. I know that, because she taught me that it was acceptable to lie if I didn't want to do something my friend did. Did I feel either one of these mothers had integrity? Well, I didn't quite know the concept of integrity, but on a child's level I responded with what I knew. So what does that tell you?

Well, we are adults now. So let's look at integrity from an adult vantage point. Certainly we can agree it is a positive attribute in anyone. Let's see what Webster's says:

Integrity: 1. an unimpaired condition: soundness, 2. adherence to a code of moral, artistic, or other values 3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness syn see honesty, unity

Our thesaurus and book of synonyms says:

Integrity: 1. uprightness, honesty, probity, rectitude; truthfulness, veracity, candidness, sincerity, forthrightness; trustworthiness, faithfulness; justness, fairness, Inf. Square shooting; honor, goodness, decency, morality, moral fiber; conscientiousness, scrupulousness, principle, virtue; courage, intestinal fortitude, Sl. Guts, backbone.

2. unity, oneness, wholeness, entirety, completeness, totality.
3. soundness, intactness, perfection, flawlessness, mint condition.

Now that we have heard man's interpretation, let's hear what God has to say about it: *NOTE: Strong's concordance substitutes the word “blameless” for integrity.

(Genesis 20:5-6)

1 Kings 9:4-- “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws (5) I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever

Job 2:3—The the Lord said to satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

Job 2:9—His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?

Job 27:5—I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.

Psalm 7:8—Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my integrity, O Most High.

Psalm 25:21—May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord is in you.

(Psalm 26:1)

(Psalm 26:11)

Psalm 41:12—Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

Psalm 78:72—And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

Proverbs 10:9—Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

Proverbs 11:3—The integrity of the upright guides them, bu the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

(Proverbs 19:1)

(Proverbs 20:7)

Proverbs 29:10—The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.

Titus 2:7—In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness (8)and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned

Wow. God says a lot about integrity. Here's what I think the characteristics of integrity are:

To be--

1. Honest at all times, gently and with love, even when it's uncomfortable to do so
2. Respectful in your words and actions toward others (and yourself)
3. Reliable—be known for doing what you say you will do
4. A person of your word—if you agree on something, stick to it
5. Trustworthy—do not divulge confidences, even to solicit “prayers”. Be known for your honesty.
6. One to follow through, follow up—Complete what you say you will do, and make sure it is sufficient.
7. Caring, compassionate—love with the heart of Jesus. Think of others before yourself.
8. Self-sacrificing—give of your time when necessary, and your possessions as well.

I find it interesting that an object can “lack integrity”. That means it has a fault that makes its performance unreliable. If a piece of metal has been bent, its “integrity” has been compromised.

So what does a lack of integrity do in an adult? As a parent, if you lack integrity your children sense it. They will act accordingly. If you lack integrity, it is virtually impossible to teach your children respect. They don't see the value in it. If you tell your children you are going to do something, then don't follow through, they know they can talk you into whatever they want. If you say “no” and then give in, that is a lack of integrity. And it sends all the wrong messages about how to function in this world. Conversely, if you tell your children you are going to take them to Disneyland, and then come up with excuse after excuse as to why you can't, time after time, they learn you are not a person of your word. They won't trust you.

In the work place, if you are frequently late, gossip, speak ill of your boss, take advantage of your co-workers, complain, and are generally selfish, you probably won't have a job very long. And it will be difficult for you to find another that is worth having.

In the community, your integrity, or lack thereof, follows you (or precedes you!). People are very suspicious of a person who they believe lacks integrity. Even those who walk in that dim light themselves! It can affect how people conduct business with you in the market, the bank, at the doctor's or dentist office, even church.

So I think we all agree integrity is a valuable characteristic to have. What if you were not raised in an environment of integrity? How do you obtain it? Our first and best resource is God's word. The example of Jesus is the best I can think of, but there are many many people in the Bible who model integrity. Esther, Ruth, David (at times), Moses (at times), Daniel, Joseph, and the list goes on. Truly the only faultless example is Jesus. How can we live up to His example? We are “mere humans!”

The answer, of course, is that we are not “mere humans.” We are new creations, born again and washed in the blood of our risen Savior. We have access to the great Counselor, the strength and power of God given us in the Holy Spirit. So we truly have no valid excuse.

How does God wish for you to be known? We have the answer to that question, because He sent His only son as our example. Is that how you wish to be known? Is to be Christ-like a true desire in your heart? Here are some suggestions as to how to walk the path toward integrity:

• When faced with adversity or temptation, CHOOSE to make the right choices. If someone has offended you, think about what Jesus taught us; forgive and turn it over to God. Jesus taught us to “turn the other cheek.”

• Jesus was not a doormat. He stood for justice. When you see someone being mistreated, do something about it. Speak up. Don't act out in violence, but defend those who are helpless.

• Care about your body. Do what you know to be right—eat right, in correct quantities. Drink lots of water. Take vitamins. Get plenty of exercise. LEARN TO SAY NO TO YOURSELF (and the enemy). Do not use laziness or food as a way to reward yourself. If you are overweight, chances are you need to adjust your attitude about yourself and about food. Do all of the aforementioned according to what you know God wants for you. Because you know it's the right thing to do. That's integrity.

• Adjust your attitude about other people. Ask Holy Spirit to show you people and circumstances through the eyes of Jesus. Ask Him to show you things through the heart of Jesus. If you do this, and receive what He shows you, you will never see things the same way again. You will speak less harshly, you will be less critical, more patient and tolerant. And you will see yourself as equal to, not above or below others. This step is very important.

• Most importantly: Make God your priority. Place Him first above all others in your life. Yes, even your spouse or your children or your job. Begin each day with praise and thanks, and ask God to show you any hidden sin. Confess, repent and then pray for others FIRST before you pray for your own needs. Spending five minutes in prayer thanking God and telling Him what you want isn't very intimate. But it's a start. Develop a heart for intimacy with God. Quiet yourself and ask Him to speak to you. Even if this means getting up 30 minutes earlier, it is well worth it. Allow God to dictate how long your prayer should be....not your clock.

• Get deep into God's word. Read about His characteristics: Psalm 103, Exodus 34:6, 1 Cor. 13—because God is love. Ask Holy Spirit to remove anything within you that is not of the character of God. You see, we are called to be a light on the hill. A beacon. When people meet us, they need to meet God. It's not an overnight process, and we must be patient with ourselves. Love is patient. We want them to want what (who) we carry.

We do not want to have fear of man. We don't even want to really pattern our lives around what others think of us. But we DO need to care about who we are in the kingdom and how we portray Jesus in this world. It's not so much about what people think of us, but more about what they think of the Jesus they meet in you.

When I was young I thought integrity was laughable. “Corny.” Undesirable. Unattainable. Because that's all I knew. Now, as an adult I treasure the gift of integrity. I do not strive for it. I daily ask that God help me walk in it.

If you are a parent or grandparent, model integrity to children. Show them the benefits. Teach them honor, respect. And teach them to know the majesty of their Father God. All of these things are what will bring change to this world, and to God's people. “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.”

Be the person you pray each new Christian will become. Be the kingdom on earth, now. Bring Jesus to the world in truth. If you walk in integrity, pre-Christians will not doubt what you say and do. Be the truth:

In John 8:32—Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. (32)Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Walking in integrity is walking in freedom. When you are tempted or you see something that reminds you of who you were in the past, you can now say “That's not who I am anymore.” Praise God.

Be the person of integrity God created you to be. Show the world who God is, by showing them who you really are. Go ahead; it's worth it. He's worth it. And so are you.