Sunday – Integrity is only looking at things your 9-year old daughter can look at with you.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” Job 31:1
Technology—in many ways it’s made our life easier. Living in Colorado where the temperature can drop to single digits and below, I particularly appreciate indoor plumbing. I also prefer HDTV on a big screen for NFL games than the tiny, grainy B&W screen I grew up with. I still shudder when I think of my first “brick” phone in the late 70s. What would we do without today’s smart phones? The world at our fingertips.
But is it really a good thing? Jesus said, “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out…”[1] How easy it is to stumble in the cyberspace of today. Sometimes it can happen innocently. Vile pornography can appear without warning. But here’s the test. Do we click off immediately or does our gaze linger?
Here is a good reason why it’s important to have a conscious goal of righteousness. Evil can sneak up on us. If we haven’t planned and rehearsed how to deal with temptation, it can easily defeat us. It’s been said that failing to plan is planning to fail. That’s especially true in the spiritual realm.
We have an avowed enemy whose only mission is to “steal, kill and destroy.”[2] Are we armored up?[3] Are our “inbound filters” in place as to what we watch on TV, what we search the Web for, what gossip we embrace at work? Job defends his integrity by stating that he had actually made a covenant with his eyes. How many of us can even say we want to look away? There’s our starting point. May we be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to “turn away from evil.”[4]
Lord, there is so much that draws my eyes away from You and Your plan for my life. Strengthen my desire and conviction to walk in a manner pleasing to you…even if it means I walk alone, knowing that You will never leave me or forsake me and that You will empower me along the way. In Christ’s name, Amen.
[1] Matt. 5:29
[2] John 10:10
[3] Eph. 6:11-13
[4] Prov. 3:7
Monday – Integrity keeps its word, regardless of the cost.
“Oh Lord, who may abide in Your tent?…He who walks with integrity…swears to his own hurt and does not change.” Psa. 15:1-4
Does it irritate you as much as it does me when professional athletes are one or two years into a longer contract, have an outstanding year, and then want to hold the team hostage while they renegotiate the contract? How would you react if you had signed a 5-year lease on an office building and because your landlord had a bad year he comes to you and says, “I’m raising your rent by 20%?”
Don’t we have a built-in sense of fairness? Does it still apply when we draw the short straw? Solomon said, “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!” [1] Pretty strong words to consider. The idea is to take time and think through the commitment you’re about to make…before you make it, not after.
Remember the parable of the landowner[2] who hired temporary help throughout the day? He offered the same wage to each of the five groups he hired. When those he hired first—who had borne the heat and burden of the day—saw that the ones who had only worked one hour received the same pay they had agreed to, they thought they would get more. Surprise! They got exactly what they had agreed to.
Now I can certainly relate to the first group. From one viewpoint, it wouldn’t seem fair (there’s that word again) to do what the landowner did. But what did he do that wasn’t fair? He made a contract—a vow, if you will—and kept it. The real lesson is about the generosity of the landowner (representative of God) and that in God’s kingdom, all receive the same eternal benefits. Let’s remember that God watches what we say and expects us to honor our word.
Lord, often my sense of what’s fair is tainted by what the world says I deserve. May I live in Your grace today and remember that my eternal future is secure in Christ. Help me to trust Your promise of a future and a hope because You’re trustworthy and You’ve always given me more than I need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[1] Ecc. 5:4
[2] Matt. 20
Tuesday – Integrity does what’s right, because it’s the right thing to do.
“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you. II Cor 6:17
“I hear voices telling me what to do.” We roll our eyes and say, “yeah, sure” when a TV cop show portrays the perp as a psycho. But don’t we all hear voices telling us what to do? The ads bombard us with what to buy, wear, drive, eat, etc. Our friends would have us think and act like they do.
The slippery slope of lack of integrity can start very small—a “white” lie, a tablet from work that finds its way home, a ding in the car next to us in the parking lot with no note from us—all while hearing, “It’s OK; it’s so little. Don’t worry about it.” But what does the voice of God have to say? “Come out…be separate…do not touch.” What part of that sounds like “It’s OK?”
Belonging to something is innate in all of us. We join sports teams, service clubs, churches. Why? Because God created us for fellowship. When we find that with Him, then “It’s OK.” But, let’s face it, we don’t like loneliness. We hate to be the last one picked, the odd man out. The PC crowd hasn’t hit on the cruelty of musical chairs yet. But it’s coming.
How many Biblical characters can you think of who had to take a stand for what God had told them? And do it alone? Here are just a few: Noah, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Paul. I’m sure you have your favorites that I didn’t list. But you get the point. These men are considered giants of the faith because following God was more important than popularity.
We’ve all heard “You’ve got to go along to get along.” My question is, “Why do we want to ‘get along’ with people whose opinions and lives don’t point me to Christ?” God tells us to separate ourselves from the world. Maybe our different lifestyle is just what our neighbor, our co-worker, our spouse needs to come to Christ. Don’t focus on what you’ll be missing by separating from the world, think about what God has promised: “I will welcome you.”
Father, it’s only hard to separate myself from the world because I am not focused on You and what You have commanded. Today, bring me back to being “You-centered” so the world’s allure fades out of view. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday – Integrity repays others before it indulges itself.
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Rom. 13:8
It seems that bankruptcy no longer carries the stigma it once did. Back in the day, men did whatever it took to repay someone’s trust in them. But we’ve heard the commercials for debt elimination companies touting savings of up to 75%. The IRS has programs of a similar nature.
But what of the man of God? Does our word have value? Do we enter agreements thinking in the back of our mind that if it doesn’t work, we can always declare BK? Obviously, low credit scores for late pays or collections don’t scare us like they once did. And how about the guy who can’t say no to his own desires regarding spending? His club membership, the generous business lunches to impress clients and friends, the credit cards to keep his wife in the latest, all take precedent over repaying outstanding debt. Why? Because if I say no to myself, I might have to explain why I can’t play golf with you or go on that fishing trip. My pride is at stake and I’ll protect it no matter what.
Beware! God is watching. And know this: our character is more important to God (and should be to us too) than protecting our deadly pride. He will not allow anything to get in His way of molding us into the image of His son. If you have gotten into a hole with your creditors, stop spending. Deny yourself and take care of your obligations.
We learned Monday how God feels about making promises (to pay) that we don’t keep. You don’t want to be labeled “fool” by God. Pay what you owe. You’ll be relieved of a great burden. God doesn’t ever want us to be in debt to others.[1] Why? Because the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.[2] If we are a slave to debt, we can’t be a slave to Christ. It becomes an idol. Commit in your heart before God to repay every dime. Start today.
Father, You have made it clear what you think of those who don’t pay what they vow. Your reputation is on the line when I selfishly spend on myself before repaying those who have invested in me. Forgive me. I commit to You today to work out a payment plan that makes my creditors whole before I buy anything more for myself. Thank You for meeting all my needs today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen
[1] Rom. 13:8
[2] Prov. 22:7
Thursday – Integrity includes Intellectual Honesty.
“And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
In a recent opinion piece in my local newspaper, a “Dr. F” wrote about intellectual integrity in connection with evolution. He called evolution “the first scientific and testable explanation of … life on earth.” Later in the article he called creationism and intelligent design “wishful thinking.”
Now, I’m not a scientist. But I do know that true science never contradicts the Bible. If the “flat earth” folks knew their Old Testament (“…He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,” Prov.8:27) they wouldn’t have been afraid to sail beyond the horizon. Real science includes the pillars of observability and repeatability, neither of which applies to evolution.
Integrity has an open mind to truth and all truth is God’s truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life…”[1] We shouldn’t be so dogmatic that we are not open to new ideas even if they conflict with long-held beliefs. The key is to filter everything through the lens of scripture. The Bible was true when it was written, and it’s still true today. God cannot lie; it’s not in His character. And that’s why we can stake our eternal future on God’s revealed truth: the Bible.
Knowing the truth will set us free from what? Wrong beliefs, wrong decisions, wrong companions. But we have to know the truth. Psalm 1 tells us the man who “meditates day and night”[2] will be blessed. My prayer for us today is that God would grant us a new love for His Word and through that a new love for Him.[3]
Father, the world around us constantly bombards us with false claims, many purportedly backed by science. Open our eyes to know Your truth and to make it so much a part of our lives that we cannot be led astray. Give us boldness to stand for the truth You have revealed to us in Your Son, Jesus. In His name, Amen.
(Author’s note: Read and study Psalm 119 for an amazing perspective on God’s Word.)
[1] John 14:6
[2] Psalm 1:1, 2
[3] Psalm 119:38
Friday – Integrity never weighs your thumb.
“A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; all the weights of the bag are His concern.” Prov. 16:11
When butcher shops were more common, it was a frequent practice of unscrupulous butchers to press down on the scale with their thumb, thus charging more than they should have. Proverbs tells us that God is concerned with fair trade practices. Are we? Do our customers get what they think they’re getting, at the agreed upon price? Have you ever sold a car to a private party and not disclosed that nagging engine noise? God saw it.
When my kids were little, I made it very clear that punishment for their crimes would be much more severe if they lied about it. Think about that. Why do we remember Ananias and Sapphira?[1] They lied to the Holy Spirit. OK, that was pretty dumb…and they paid immediately with their lives.
But do we lie to God by our deceitful behavior? And just because God doesn’t immediately mete out punishment, we’re emboldened to think we’ve gotten away with it. Brothers, do not be deceived.[2] God is patient,[3] waiting for us to come to our senses[4] and return to Him in humility and repentance.
When we name the name of Christ, others—often unseen and unbeknownst to us—are watching everything we do. They may not say anything directly to us, but you can bet they’ll pass along any juicy tidbit that reflects negatively on you and on the God you claim to serve. If we understand that God is watching us, not to catch us doing wrong, but to lovingly protect and guide us,[5] we’ll live out our integrity so others will see.
From this platform, we earn the right to talk to them about Christ. How embarrassing to share God’s love in Christ with someone only to have them question our integrity because of something they’ve heard. Focus on Christ and His righteousness, and God will take care of everything you need.[6]
Father, with the economy pressing me on all sides, I’m tempted to weigh my thumb at times. I know this doesn’t honor You or strengthen my testimony of Christ. Allow my faith in You to be such that I never embarrass You by cutting corners. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[1] Acts 5:1-11
[2] Gal. 6:7
[3] II Pet. 3:9
[4] Luke 15:17
[5] Psalm 32:8
[6] Matt. 6:33
Saturday – Integrity is recognized by all, even our enemies.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” Matt. 5:16
It’s been said that if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. What are you standing for today? Is there anything for which you are willing to be mocked, persecuted, killed? Remember when Jesus was on trial, they couldn’t find anything to charge Him with so they had to trump up charges.[1]
I dare say that for most of us, finding something that we’re not proud of wouldn’t take too long. And, we’re not usually aware of it, but our neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members could likely add fuel to that fire. We are watched and people form opinions. What will the books[2] reveal about our lives? How do you decide what’s important and what’s not? What are you willing to support emotionally, financially, physically even if it costs you materially?
Here’s a good rule of thumb: be determined in your principles, but defer to others for preferences. Why is it most of us don’t like politicians? Because many politicians can be swayed by public opinion. They want to be liked, to be popular, to get re-elected. “Tell ‘em what they want to hear” is a familiar mantra in Washington.
But you, brothers, are to live differently. The Bible is unambiguous in so many areas. There’s no gray area with God.[3] Our words and actions reveal our character.[4] Decide what principles you will not back down from; make sure they stem from a desire for righteousness in your life and sphere of influence. Your integrity will automatically be a beacon for others to follow.
Lord, You modeled the epitome of integrity, and were killed for it. Help me today and each day to move closer to Your example so that when You open the books of my life, I won’t be ashamed. In Christ’s name, Amen.
[1] Matt. 26:59
[2] Rev. 20:12
[3] Matt. 12:30
[4] Matt. 12:33-37