Integrity
Integrity is uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty; the state of being whole or entire; a sound, unimpaired condition, Webster’s Dictionary says. In simpler language: Someone who has good values and knows right from wrong, lives by those values and does not give in to wrong when tempted has integrity. Integrity, then, is what good character is all about. Without integrity, a nation perishes. Without integrity, the prisons overflow. Without integrity, the laws of the land become unjust.
The simple are entrapped by a word (Is. 29:21). Lawyers and judges take bribes, which they call considerations (Micah 7:3). Politicians take bribes, which they call consulting fees (Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:19; 1 Sam. 8:3). Radio stations take payola, which is just a more respectable name for bribes (Prov. 17:8). Today, prostitutes are called escorts (Ezek. 23:19). Criminals are called unfortunate. And in witchcraft, mediums are now called channelers (Lev. 19:31; Isa.19:3; Isa. 8:19).
God says, “I am the Lord, who teaches you how to live the profitable Way and who teaches you in the Way you should live” (Is. 48:17). It is God who teaches man knowledge (Psalm 94:10). Then it stands to reason, it is not good to ignore God’s word daily, is it?
The amount of integrity you have determines whether you will be successful in this life or be most miserable (Prov. 10:9; Job 8:20; Ps. 15:2). Integrity, or the lack of it, determines how you feel about yourself on a daily basis. Is your self-worth high? You have integrity. Is your self-worth low? You have a lack of integrity. It’s just that simple.
What if Jesus Christ had no integrity? He couldn’t be our Savior. Many do not realize that Jesus came to save you from your worst enemy—yourself. He came to bless you by showing you His easy Way so you could turn from your wicked ways and be blessed (Acts 3:26). The word “turn” means to repent, cease to live your way and begin to live God’s Way. Hence, cease to do evil; learn to do good (Is. 1:16-17; Titus 3:14).
The Lord wants you to keep His Ways, called in one Scripture the “ancient paths” (Jer. 6:16). He says you will find “rest for your souls.” Compare this Scripture with what Jesus said to those who would follow Him in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden [with sins and troubles] and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you [live My Way of life], and learn from Me. I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy [My Way of life is easy and it is not hard] and My burden is light.”
The Father told Jesus His Ways. Jesus then was commanded to tell others about God’s Ways. Jesus kept God’s Ways and showed us, by His example, how we are to keep God’s Ways. Jesus was prophesied anciently to come and tell us God’s Ways so we could repent (Deut. 18:18-19). Jesus Himself fulfilled that prophecy in John 12:47-50. The prophecy in Deuteronomy is repeated in Acts 3:22-23, in its full severity.
So then, if a person is going to keep God’s Ways, he must imitate the Way God lives and talks (Eph. 5:1; 1 Peter 4:11). This takes disciplining yourself for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. 4:7; Titus 1:1). This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 6:3). Disciplining yourself for godliness not only builds godly integrity in this life and insures you success in all that you put your hand to do, but also builds the kind of godly character that will be required for living in the kingdom of God that is coming to this earth very shortly.
What is desired by the Lord in a man is kindness. Kindness is thoughtfulness, being considerate and living charitably (Prov. 3:3; 19:22; Hosea 4:1; 12:6; Micah 6:8). If a person was kind in all his ways and all his deeds towards others, he would be only living to do good. This is how Jesus lived and this is how He commands us to live. God will not reject a man of integrity (Job 8:20; Psalm 7:8; 25:21; 26:1-11). Integrity is what life is all about.
You are born into this world. You may have had godly parents who brought you up in the Ways of the Lord. They taught you what was wrong and what was right—according to what God’s word said (Prov. 3:12). God’s word says that correction and discipline are a way of life (Prov. 6:23). A wise son accepts his father’s discipline (Prov. 13:1). A righteous man who walks in his integrity: how blessed are his sons after him (Prov. 20:7). It is by his deeds that a young person tells the world who he really is—if his conduct is pure and right (Prov. 20:11). Your parents, if they were good parents, taught you wrong from right and disciplined you diligently, because they knew they had to do their part to help build integrity in you or you wouldn’t have any (Ps. 25:21; Ps. 26:1). You would follow the wrong example of behavior instead of being the right example of behavior for others to follow. Good things happen to good kids. Bad things happen to bad kids. The same is true for adults. Many parents have not trained their children in the way they should go, and you can see the results today (1 John 3:10).
God knew many parents would be failures in the last days. So, God has designed an easy way for you to build godly character and integrity, in spite of who your parents were and in spite of what you are today. Overcome evil simply by doing good for God each day if you want to live forever (Psalm 37:27). Continually do things that are pleasing in God’s sight and your prayers will be heard (1 John 3:22). Doing good for God not only shows Him respect daily, but it is also doing God’s Will (John 9:31). It is how God is glorified (Matt. 5:16). It is how He is worshiped (Rom. 12:1-2; 6:13, 19).
Brush your teeth for God. Take a bath for God. Clean your place for God. Wear nice clothes for God. Men, keep your hair trimmed (like a man’s) for God (1 Cor. 11:14; Ezek. 44:20). If you do everything you do for God, you are committing all your ways to the Lord and are pleasing in His sight (Col. 3:17).
Notice things you cannot do for God because they are not pleasing to Him and will hurt you: Use God’s name as a swear word for God. Read dirty books or see dirty movies for God. Break the speed limit for God. Disobey the law for God. Do what is wrong for God. Seems ridiculous, doesn’t it? But it is exactly what many do, isn’t it? Many people live ridiculous lives, don’t they? They deserve to be cursed, don’t they? They are bringing it on themselves, aren’t they?
Every time you sin or do something wrong, it’s like hitting yourself in the face. Worst of all, it’s like hitting your Creator God in the face. It’s like slapping your parents in the face. Remember always, if you do not care about God, He doesn’t care about you. If you ignore Him, He will ignore you (1 Chron. 28:9). If you live for Him, to please Him, He will live for you and please you. It’s that simple.
God is not stupid; but we are, if we do not obey Him (Gal. 6:7). He created man to seek Him, find Him and obey Him. He only wants what’s good for you. He wants you to desire that for yourself. He will help you, guide you, forgive you and give you His Holy Spirit to overcome with, if you just ask Him (Luke 11:13).
If you will obey Him, keep Jesus’ words or deeds and overcome so He can bless you, He will give you His Spirit (Acts 5:32). Who can stop you from doing good for God except the devil (James 4:7)? You must resist him daily by doing good for God, and in the process, build godly character and integrity that will endure forever.
The next move is yours. This is why God gave you free will—so He could make a determination (Mal. 3:18; Matt. 25:41)!