In the ongoing “Hero” series, Pastor Mark preached an amazing message this weekend on Daniel, a man who exhibited tremendous courage and an unwavering commitment to righteousness even in the face of potential disaster. Pastor Mark talked about the importance of setting boundaries and making “pre-decisions” not to compromise in our obedience to God.
Since Sunday morning, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to have integrity and to live a disciplined, righteous life in a world where it is tempting to do otherwise. As I began looking at how the word “integrity” is defined in Scripture, I was amazed once again how rich God’s Word is and how brilliantly it provides guidance for living godly, righteous lives.
Definitions/Word Study
Webster’s provides several definitions for integrity: (1) a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility; (2) an unimpaired condition: soundness; and (3) the quality or state of being complete or undivided. Princeton University’s WordNet yielded this definition for integrity: “an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting.”
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for integrity is tom, sometimes rendered as tome or tummah. It is used to indicate completeness, innocence, righteousness, fullness, simplicity, and blamelessness. There are a limited number of Scriptures which actually use the word integrity, but hundreds that define it implictly.
What the Bible Tell Us About Integrity
Integrity is bred in the heart — throughout the Old Testament, and particularly in reference to King David, the word integrity occurs most frequently in the phrase “integrity of the heart” (Gen. 20:5-6, 1 Kgs. 9:4, 1 Chron. 29:17; Psalm 101:12).
God delights in integrity and righteousness. Job 8:20 promises that “God will not reject a man of integrity” and He vindicates us according to our integrity (Psalm 7:8; 26:1). God upholds us in our integrity (Psalm 41:12) and preserves us through righteousness (Psalm 25:21). Proverbs 2:7 tells us that God “is a shield to those who walk in integrity” and allows those who “walk in integrity” and “work righteousness” to abide in His tent and dwell on His holy hill (Psalm 15:1-2; 24:3-5).
Jesus Christ was a man of integrity. Even when the Pharisees were trying to trap Him on the subject of paying taxes to Caesar, they commended Him as a “man of integrity” who teaches the way of God in truth, deferring to no one and showing partiality to none (Matt. 22:15, Mark 12:14).
Leaders are called to walk in integrity. The Bible clearly provides guidelines for godly, righteous living for all of us, but leaders are particularly called to live with integrity. Psalm 78:72 describes David’s leadership this way: “he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart.” In Exodus 18:21, Jethro encourages Moses to put together a strong leadership team, instructing him to “select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.”
The book of Titus calls leaders to integrity, instructing us “In everything set them an example of doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity” (Titus 2:7). Titus defines integrity in 1:7-8: “Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless — not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”
Promises for Having Integrity
We mentioned a few of the benefits of walking in integrity when we saw how God delights in those who live righteous and disciplined lives. Here are a few more verses that demonstrate benefits for those who walk with integrity:
Proverbs 10:9 — He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Proverbs 11:3 — The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
Proverbs 20:7 — A righteous man who walks in his integrity — how blessed are his sons after him.
Application
How do you define integrity?
Are you walking in integrity of the heart? If not, what changes do you need to make to live a righteous, holy, disciplined life?
Have you asked God to help you make those “pre-decisions” so that when times of temptation or hard choices confront you, you won’t compromise?
Final Encouragement
If you are like me, reading what the Bible says about walking in integrity is probably convicting. You may feel like you are way short of the mark. Don’t be discouraged! Confess to God (and others) where you have failed to live with integrity and let Him restore you and make your path level (Isaiah 26:7).
I leave you with these statements of integrity by three biblical heroes:
“I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.” (Job, Job:27:6)
“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.” (David, Psalm 26:1-3)
“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” (Paul, Acts 24:16)
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