“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7, NKJV).
Home repairs are one of my least favorite tasks. I am seriously lacking in handyman skills. If the repair is even slightly complex, it means calling a repairman, setting an appointment, and then paying an unexpected bill.
A few years ago, I noticed some water around a small foundation crack. It was small and I could have ignored it. Instead, I chose to be proactive and called a repair company. The fix was simple and the cost relatively small. End of story. Had I ignored the situation, however, the problem could have become a much bigger, and more costly, leak.
OUR MORAL FOUNDATION
The same principle applies to our daily lives. A small chip or broken spot may threaten to weaken our moral foundation. It may seem minor — just a little misrepresentation or a broken promise. Yet even something small may develop into a hidden danger. Little things over time can become bigger things. Proverbs 11:3 cautions that, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” (NKJV).
What is integrity? We can describe it as honesty, strong moral principles, uprightness, or good character. In everyday language, integrity means always doing the right thing even when no one is looking (or will ever find out). This is opposite the philosophy that boasts, “The end justifies the means.”
At some point in life, all of us will be tempted to compromise our integrity. The pressure may come from outside, such as a boss instructing us to lie about a business matter. Or the challenge may come from inside to escape the consequences of an action. We can soothe our conscience by saying, “It’s not that big a deal. I’m not hurting anyone else.” That argument doesn’t hold up. Our lack of integrity will always affect others.
BENEFITS OF INTEGRITY
Why is integrity so important? We can list many reasons, but let’s just look at three.
Integrity gives us peace. We don’t have to live with the guilt of knowing we settled for the easy way instead of living by our principles. We will have a clear conscience. (Read Hebrews 13:18).
Integrity brings trust. If we are a person of honesty and character, others will trust us. Even those who attempt to discredit us won’t be able to find anything evil to say about us. (Read I Peter 3:16).
A person of integrity becomes a role model. We exhibit honesty and uprightness to a world that often lacks these important characteristics. Little compromises, little omissions, little untruths soon erode character. By paying attention to these things, we affect those around us. (Read Titus 2:7-8 and I Corinthians 11:1.)
It is vital that we keep the foundations strong. Repair any chips or small breaks now. Remember, we are preserving integrity for the next generation (Proverbs 20:7).
“A person is not given integrity. It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times.”
–Unknown
PERSONAL REFLECTION
- Was there a time when something small tempted you to compromise your integrity?
- Have you lost trust in a person because of their lack of integrity? Were they able to regain your trust?
- Can one person make a difference by choosing integrity?
Devotion by Mary Loudermilk
