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Writer's pictureChristy Schuette

Integrity

July 25

2 Chronicles 31-32

Psalm 84:1-7

Proverbs 19:1-2

I Corinthians 4

Integrity


“Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”

Proverbs 19:1 ESV


Merriam Webster dictionary defines Integrity as “a firm adherence to a code of moral values, an unimpaired condition, and the quality or state of being complete or undivided.”10 The word integrity comes from the Latin word integer which means whole or complete. A person with integrity is “whole and complete” because they act according to the values, beliefs, and principles that they hold to. They are “unimpaired” because they do not compromise their values and beliefs for personal gain or convenience. They are “undivided” because they do not think one way and act another. Having strongly held beliefs and convictions is of no good if we are not willing to act on them. As believers we have the benefit of ultimate truth found in the Bible. God has given us very clear principles that we can use to form our beliefs. On most issues there are absolutes. The world wants us to believe that truth is relative, and that experience should determine our beliefs. That is a clever tactic by Satan to undermine God’s Word and cause us to doubt. When the Bible speaks on an issue, we must not compromise to go along with cultural norms and traditions. We cannot say we believe in the sanctity of life and yet support a person’s “right to choose.” We cannot say that we personally believe in God’s principles regarding sexual relationships, but then support homosexuality or sex outside of marriage. We must act in love to individuals but stand firmly against the public policies that go against biblical truth.


In the verse above, the phrase “crooked in speech” is easy to skim over. I have a picture in my head of a snake with a forked tongue spewing lies. I think this verse is referring to something far more subtle. Unfortunately, most of us are guilty of being crooked in speech more that we want to admit. Around our church friends we are firm in our beliefs and stand uncompromisingly on them, but at work or with our neighbors we don’t want to appear judgmental or unloving, so we just don’t talk about those difficult issues, or we water down what we say to avoid a conflict. In a world filled with compromise and tolerance, Christians must be different. We must be people of integrity. Those around us are longing to find someone they can trust. They may not like what we say, but they must know they can trust us to speak truth and to act accordingly. It is not loving to go along with things that are harmful and evil. Failing to speak truth when we have an opportunity to do so in a loving way is cowardly and sinful. Speaking truth in love may be messy and inconvenient. It may require us to help them find an alternative solution to their problems. It may require us to pray for them and love them even if they choose a path we don’t agree with. We don’t turn our backs on them, but they need to know they can count on us to tell them the truth. There are plenty of people who will tell them what they want to hear. They need someone willing to tell them what they need to hear.



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