It’s hard to know who to trust these days. News reporters, government leaders, celebrities and influencers often convey information that is not factual. It is skewed to reflect opinions and personal bias. Trust may be in short supply when people we associate with may not have the best of intentions in their business dealings and personal interactions. Our society’s flippant disregard for trustworthiness means that honesty and integrity are often afterthoughts (if they’re thought of it at all). The standards of morality continue to decline. Integrity has lost its importance in people’s lives.
WHAT IS INTEGRITY?
In his book, A Life Beyond Amazing, Dr. David Jeremiah defines integrity as “the determination to stand by your word and complete your commitment. A person of integrity is consistently faithful to the truth, committed to doing the right thing, and does what he says he will do.” (emphasis mine) It is walking uprightly with an ethical commitment to honoring God, and in so doing, becoming a reflection of God’s character. His character displays love, mercy, generosity, justice, faithfulness and compassion.
GOD DOES NOT LIE
Being faithful to the truth means being committed to honesty in all situations. There are no exceptions. A ‘little white lie’ does not exist. The magnitude of untruthfulness does not affect the damage it can do to others and your relationships with them. So how do we meet these standards of integrity?
God does not lie and neither should we. “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Prov. 12:22). Telling the truth is central to a life of integrity. All the decisions we make, and the effects of those decisions, are directly related to how much we value honesty in our lives.
DOING WHAT IS RIGHT WHEN IT IS HARD
Integrity means doing the right thing even when it is unpopular or costly to do so. Thinking of others before ourselves and seeking to do what is best for all those involved are central to integrity. We should be honest with ourselves, always questioning our motives and refusing to justify what we know is wrong. Joseph’s refusal to give in to the advances of Potiphar’s wife resulted in several years of imprisonment. And Job? He refused to curse God while amid intense suffering. Joseph and Job are models of integrity.
DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL
A person of integrity does what he says he will do. Keeping your word even when it may involve sacrifice or inconvenience on our part. Consistent and reliability are central. Being that person others know they can count on. Striving to emulate God’s character. “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” (Deut. 7:9). Integrity fosters respect from those you interact with.
Are you pursuing to become a person of integrity? Is truthfulness imperative in your life? Are you committed to doing the right thing in all circumstances? Do others know you as a person of your word? What ultimately matters to God is the quality of our character. These are tough standards to reach and maintain, and we all falter at one time or another. But your efforts are not in vain. Keep up the pursuit, your integrity is at stake. This is God’s plan for the character of His children.
Click and listen to the story of a person who stood for truth, no matter what