INTEGRITY

Integrity can be defined as “the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. It is consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes.”

Integrity requires wholeness, consistency of characters, honesty, truthfulness, considerable depth of self-awareness and an uncompromising willingness to be authentic.

A person of integrity keeps promises, is responsible, is committed to honour, can be trusted with secular and non-secular assignments, does the right thing no matter whether he is being monitored or not.

It will not be difficult for a believer who has integrity to be spiritually conscious by being faithful in all things, to follow righteousness, to not be given to sins and be obedient to God's commands and pursue godly character.

Our God is the God of integrity, every word of his is flawless. Prov 30:5. He is faithful, upright and just. Deut 32: 4. He expects us to be persons of integrity too.

What does the Bible say about integrity? Let us consider some of them.

1kgs 9:4-5a: "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, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever".

1 Chron 29:17a: "I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity."

Job 2:3: "Then 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."

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

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

Prov 10:9a: "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely."

Prov 11:3a: "The integrity of the upright guides them."

 

From the few examples written above, we can see that the word integrity occurs severally in the Bible. Since our God is the God of integrity, and He expects us to be too, how then can one display integrity?You can display it through consistency of character in all situations and circumstances and people should be able to visibly see it through your actions, words and decisions.

 

Let us consider some characters with integrity in the Bible.

Joseph: Gen 39:4-13. Joseph was Potiphar's attendant in Egypt. He was he put him in charge of his household and entrusted to his care everything he owned.  Joseph was tempted by Potiphar's wife to come to bed with her. Despite the fact that the woman was willing to have him and nobody was even around to testify against him he refused. Joseph said "With me in charge, he told her, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? " Despite the fact that this woman was persistent day after day, Joseph maintained his integrity and refused totally to go to bed with her or even be with her. Joseph was very loyal and faithful to his master, was committed and dedicated to the assignment given to him. He refused to offend his master and sin against God. Even though no one was around he was able to act justly. Joseph exhibited the traits of integrity through loyalty, faithfulness, commitment, and trust.

 

Samuel :1Sam 12:1-5. After the kingship of Saul was renewed by Samuel and the people of Israel at Gilgal in the presence of the Lord, Samuel stood before all Israel and said to them "I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right." Samuel boldly and confidently stood before them and asked the above.

 

Brethren, What integrity can surpass this? It is only a person of integrity that can assemble people and be throwing such questions at them. And the people replied, "You have not cheated or oppressed us, you have not taken anything from anyone's hand." Samuel went ahead and said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this  day, that you have not found anything in my hand," And the people responded "He is witness."

Samuel displayed integrity through uprightness, forthrightness and honesty with the fear of the Lord. A lot can be learnt from Samuel and this is worthy of emulation. He was above board, distinguished, upright, and he was integrity personified.

Afterwards Job was testified to be a man of integrity. The Lord himself testified in Job 2:3b that, "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." His wife also acknowledged that he was a man of integrity Job 2:9, "His wife said to him, are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!" It was said that in all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Despite all that job went through he said during his final word to his friends in Job 27:5, "I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity." He boldly declared that he maintained his integrity. And of course God said it of him.

 

If Joseph, Samuel and Job could be men of integrity, then you should be able to. To be a person of integrity is a matter of choice and you are admonished to choose integrity.

 

How do you gain integrity?

Examine your own morals.

Be a good role model to others.

Stand up for things that are honourable and of good reports.

Honour your agreement.

Walk with people of integrity.

Benefits of Integrity:

You gain the trust of other people.

People feel safe in your presence.

Others see you as dependable and reliable.

You also gain influence because people will always want to associate with you.

The integrity of the upright guides them (Prov 11:3)

And above all, God honours a man who lives with integrity and sets him in his presence forever. Ps 41:12. May the Lord set you in his presence forever.

 

Integrity entails owing up to your shortcoming, being straightforward and honest. It also entails being reliable, loyal, committed, accountable, dependable and standing by your word.

Beloved, are you a man of integrity? Can people say you are? God said Job was a man of integrity, Can He say the same about you? I encourage you to embrace this quality. It is honourable to be a man of integrity and it is a good quality to imbibe.

 

Prayer.

Dear Lord, I desire and love to be a person of integrity. Because you have even promised to honour such a person and set him in your presence forever, grant me the grace to be in Jesus mighty name. Amen.