Integrity: Do you have it?

It isn’t hard to see a lack of integrity in others but what about us?

People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. Proverbs 10:9 NLT

Reflection

If you aren’t a Proverbs reader, you should try it. You will find plenty of verses that will remind you of that tagline: “Wow, I could have had a V8!” Meaning you missed an opportunity.

Have you known people with integrity problems? I am sure just reading that a few folks come to mind right now. You probably have enough evidence to convict them of that declaration. After all, as Solomon said, those who walk on crooked paths will be exposed

When we think of integrity, what comes to mind? How do you measure it, and why is it essential to believe that our family or friends have it?

For me, integrity is essential to a relationship with someone that is a quality relationship. If a person isn’t honest with me and me with them, it’s not much of a relationship. We all have many relationships where we are people of integrity, but we are with folks we stay surface with. We keep it that way, and there is no need to test our integrity in that relationship. After all, just because we have a point of view, an honest one, from your perspective, doesn’t mean we are right. Agree?

I have recently witnessed an integrity crisis in several areas with several people. They couldn’t see past the emotions they fell into. Pride, arrogance, and my view perspective got the best of so many. It still is to some degree. Some of these people even declare they are God-centered. It is easy to feel like you are a do-gooder but have a very similar challenge that the people you are offended by have. So what is that?

Integrity around your faith. Integrity in your relationship with your Heavenly Father. Why?

Well, here we go. When we allow our sinful nature, the one that brings pride, arrogance, anger, and so on, to move our focus to worldly things, we crowd out God. We forget to bring Him to the party and then take sufficient time to hear from Him. We lose sight that despite what we see, we are all children of our Heavenly Father: some, not such a good reflection, but a reflection nonetheless.

It isn't easy in our culture right now, in my opinion. We older people are offending people in ways we never once thought were offensive. The offended people demand that we see things their way and are guilty of what we are towards them. That is not accepting us for who we are. Don’t get me wrong, there is ultimately a moral standard we all should own up to. That’s the one that should start with an Eye on God and not on this world.

I cringe every time I hear “This is what everyone else is doing.” or anything that suggests because many are in a certain way that we should embrace that way. It’s a social norm. That may be true, but does it conform to God's norm?

So the next time a social media post happens, and the true character of the poster is revealed, what is our reaction? For me, I’m an SMH (Shaking my head), and what I would be is a PFT (Pray for Them) person. My integrity with my Heavenly Father is at stake. My thoughts need to rise above the circumstances and focus on my relationship with God. Not with the social media poster or that neighbor doing 35 in a 25.

Our integrity in everything is always at stake. When we are with those “children of God” who lack integrity, it is clear. God doesn’t expect us to save them or change who they are. God’s got that. Heck, their eternity is at stake, and mine, depending on how I respond to it all. Given that, I release my anger, I release my disgust, and I release anything that will take me away from this genuinely incredible relationship with God. I never, under no circumstances, want ever to be far away.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is not easy to stay on that straight and narrow path. We are often tempted to allow our earthy nature, our sinful nature, to take control. Please help us to center on you when we feel that tug in the wrong direction; bring us towards your truth and not the circumstances at the moment. Please remind us that our integrity with you depends on how we are in those moments. That is our opportunity to be your faithful child and perhaps a model for another. Father, please help all those that offend me or that I can see are not centered on you. Forgive them and allow them to find their way to you. Please keep us, our families, and our friends safe. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Amen.