KEEP YOUR INTEGRITY
I want to talk to you today about keeping your integrity. This is because FAITH will not work where integrity is lacking. Our FAITH often needs our integrity to work effectively, and this was why the Apostle Paul encouraged his son, Timothy, to hold on to FAITH and a good conscience [1 Timothy 1: 19]. The great Apostle added that those who neglected this vital principle eventually ended up in shipwreck.
In a dispensation like ours, integrity might not always look like the way to go. But it is important to note that integrity always pays off. Your integrity and uprightness will preserve you and your children. By integrity, I do not mean self-righteousness. Rather, we are looking at the ability to differentiate between right and wrong—and then choosing to do what you know to be right irrespective of the consequence. Integrity will always compel you to act on what is right.
In Genesis 39:10, Joseph said, how can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? The opportunity to go against God by secretly “enjoying” himself looked appealing. It is possible that Mrs. Potiphar could have kept their affair a longterm secret. But Joseph knew that this wasn’t right. Whatever isn’t right isn’t right; it doesn’t matter how people try to portray or justify it. Instead of compromising, Joseph fled. He was punished for keeping his integrity, but this incidence eventually led him to the palace.
In Proverbs 11:3, the Bible says that “the integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” The Message Translation puts it like this, that the integrity of the honest keeps them on track. God wants us to live and govern ourselves by His standard. We must never allow circumstances and events to dictate our actions. Infact, any man with a vision takes integrity personally. Such a person does not act by impulse; he does things by established patterns.
When thrown into the fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not base their integrity on some conditions. They did not take the stand against the wrong of King Nebuchadnezzar because they knew God would deliver them. They took a stand because it was the right thing to do. They were determined and declared that even if God would not deliver them, they would still not bow [Daniel 3: 1-25]. It was simply wrong to worship other gods, and these Hebrew boys would not trade their value for the one true God.
In Daniel 6:10, the Bible tells us that Daniel left the window of his home open for all to see. He did not allow the evil schemes and what they would cost him to affect the standard of his relationship with God. It is true that he was thrown into the lions’ den, but God delivered him. Integrity makes all the difference in the world and God loves people with integrity.
The Bible highlighted some basic fruits of integrity as requirements for ministers—the ones who would walk with, and be greatly used of God.
In 1 Timothy 3: 1-5, the Apostle Paul wrote:
This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. [b] He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? [1 Timothy 3: 1-5, NLT]
These are important attributes and principles: Live above reproach; be faithful to one wife; live wisely and have a good reputation… All these point to the fact that we need to exude some integrity in our walk with God.
This letter is a call to everyone of us as children of God. We must make a decision to live right before God. He is always ready to accept anyone who sincerely comes to Him.
Make it a mandate to walk by FAITH and live a life of integrity.
God bless you!