The Value of Integrity

A young lady was soaking up some sun on a Florida Beach when a little boy in his swim suit, carrying a towel, came up to her and asked, “Do you believe in God?”  She was surprised, but answered, “Yes.”

Then he asked her: “Do you go to church every Sunday?”  “Yes, she replied. 

“Well, do you read your Bible and pray every day?” he inquired.  Again she replied in the affirmative.  But her curiosity was aroused on why the lad was wanting to know. 

Finally, with a sigh of relief, the little boy asked, “Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?” 

What this little fellow wanted to know was could he trust this lady with something of value.  Was she honest? Was she a person of integrity?  Every day we must face that same question: Am I a person of integrity?  Can you trust me with your quarter? 

The word integrity carries the meaning of wholeness or soundness. It is something that maintains its condition without impairment.  In terms of character integrity has to do with moral and ethical principles. Integrity involves honesty. Honor. Rectitude. Uprightness. 

The wise man wrote, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Prov.11:3).   Today, our country faces a crises of integrity all the way from the White House, to the court-house and too often to our house. 

Some think integrity is determined by circumstances.  That used to be called situation ethics.  Others feel they are exempt from following the same rules as others because of who they are.  They appeal to their credentials.  In the minds of many culture determines right and wrong.  And, of course, consensus of the majority is a common criterion for a large portion of our society.  However, as William Penn once put it, “Right is right even if everyone is against it.  And wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.” 

Since integrity has to do with Truth, it is safe to say that integrity is dictated by Christ.  He said, “I am the Truth” (Jn 14:6).  In His petition to the Father he prayed, “Sanctify them through your Word, your Word is Truth” (Jn. 17:17). Jesus is the embodiment of the Word.  And the Holy Spirit revealed the Person of Jesus and the Word of Jesus.  So, we can read not only what truth is, but see what is looks like.  And know what it does.  And watch how it acts and interacts with others.

We choose whether or not to be a person of integrity.  The wise man said, “The godly walk with integrity” (Prov. 20:9).  He also encouraged, “If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation” (Prov. 22:1).  It is a choice that we make in our business dealings.  In our speech.  In our relationships.  And in our moral behavior.  

Integrity is character driven.  And it is not something that suddenly appears in a time of a great moral decision.  Phillips Brooks, a 19^th century preacher and writer maintained, “Character is made in the small moments of our lives.  It isn’t created in a crisis it only comes to light.”  In others words, it is developed day by day in doing the “little things” right, so when the moment of decision comes, it is made with integrity. 

May I daily walk with the Lord as a person of integrity.  Truly, “the man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Prov 10:9).

Ken, Weliever, The Preacherman