In today’s culture, the word “integrity” is not used much.
Integrity is a rather complex word that means trustworthy, honest, or
accountable. The lack of integrity is immense in the world today, with parents that
don’t know where or what their child is doing, because that child lacks
integrity. They haven’t been accountable and have not let their parents know
where they are. Another possible meaning of integrity is diligence; when
someone completes a job completely, without the smallest hint of cutting
corners.
The word
“integrity” is used twenty-four times in the New King James Version of the
Bible. I’m just going to center in on a few of these passages. First, you read
throughout Job that he was blameless and upright and then, after he suffered,
he held to his integrity (Job 2:3). Second, there is Noah, who in Genesis 6:9,
where he is called “perfect”, which is also translated as having integrity or
blameless. Then, you see in 1 Kings 9:4, God is talking to Solomon, and He
refers to David having integrity of heart and being upright. In Titus 2:7, Paul
is outlining the qualities of a sound church, and he says to show integrity.
Proverbs has
several things to say about integrity, and it is normally contrasted or used as
an antonym to the word “perverse”. Proverbs 20:7 says, “The righteous man walks
in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” Children tend to observe
their surroundings, including the people around him, and they tend to act like
those around them. Thus, if their parents are walking in integrity, the
children will tend to act the same (no guarantees, though).
Proverbs
19:1 and 28:6 say basically the same thing; that the poor who walks in his
integrity is better than the perverse who does what he wants, even if he is
rich. I think that you don’t necessarily have to look at this verse in monetary
terms exactly, but look at it like this: walking in integrity can cost you to
lose your job, girlfriend, perfect GPA, or other tangible things. If you lose
those because of walking in integrity, you more than likely did not need those
things. If your only shot on a test is to cheat, but you don’t and get a C on
your test, it will be worth it to know that you gave it your best shot and you did not cheat.
Throughout
this article, I have used the phrase “walking in integrity”, and I want to
quickly define that. Walking in integrity means that people can trust you to do
anything and that you will go above and beyond their expectations and demands,
and at any time on any day, someone can ask you what you’re doing, and you
respond with the truth and with a clear conscience. I will not lie, walking in
integrity is extremely hard; possibly one of the hardest things you will have
to learn. Now, that being said, there are benefits, which include:
accountability, people that trust you, a good reputation, and a clean
conscience. In conclusion, just remember this: habitual honesty – integrity –
must be the goal in all our dealings1.
1. R. Kent
Hughes Disciplines of a Godly Man, 10th
edition (2006), Published by Crossway Books
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