Aug 1, 2022 | by Teacher Michael Carter
We are living in a time where truth and integrity are being lost and compromised.
Loop holes have become an open door to compromise and unaccountability in regards to individuals actions and words.We have witnessed leaders from all ranks, natural and spiritual use the gray areas of rules and life as open cracks to satisfy their flesh, acquire money, advantages, or to avoid accountability.
Or in some cases, they simply out right lie. And often, people declare that they are Christian, as if its the in thing, but don't live Christ-like in character or according to God's standards.All of thisspeaks to integrity; More specifically, a lack thereof.
As believers, we should be operating in Godly integrity, opposed to the craftiness and deceit of the world.
It distinguishes us from the world.Godly integrity impacts our lives spiritually and naturally. And as confessing Christians lackof integrity impacts others opinion of us and the faith. In some cases, they will not respect your position of faith. And watching your lifestyle not matching with your words does not encourage them to get saved.
On the contrary, it may turn them away from it.And it could create a stumbling block for younger believers.
Look at 1 Corinthians 8:9.This is not a good witness for Christ and the kingdom of God. Acts 1:8
The bible tells us in Ephesians 5:1 to be followers of God as dear children.
The word followers used here is the Greek word mimetes; it means to mimic God as a child mimics a parent.
We cannot mimic God in essence.We are not omniscient, omnipresent or omnipotent. Only God possess those attributes. However, if you have repented of your sins, asked God to forgive you, and invited Jesus into your heart as Lord and savior, you are born again of God's Spirit. Therefore His Spirit presides on the inside of you, enabling you to walk in the character and virtues of God. Therefore, you can mimic Him in His integrity.
As believers, we should be operating in the integrity of God in every area of our lives
Godly integrity is the state of being genuine of heart in regards to our motives being right before God. Godly integrity also speaks to us being who we say we are in action, opposed to declaring it only with words, being hypocritical.
The early church were not called Christians because they belonged to a particular religious organization. Christianity was not recognized as a religious organization until many, many years later.And actually, they did not call themselves that, others did in Acts 11:26.They were called Christians because people observed their change of lifestyle and Christ-likeness.They operated in the integrity of their faith.
And Godly integrity is demonstrated by us being one with our words. If we say it or commit our words to doing something, Godly integrity moves us to put all that we are on the line to preform it and bring it to pass. It speaks to our faithfulness over our words.Look at 1 Corinthians 2.Our integrity defines the measure of our character. Growing in Godly integrity impacts our Christian walk.
~ Lack of integrity compromises your character and stains your witness and testimony
To say that you are something, yet outwardly act different is not genuine, but hypocritical.Jesus dealt with the religious leaders about declaring themselves something that didn't match their actions.Look at Matthew 6:5They gave the appearance of people of God. But in demonstration they were not. That’s why Jesus called them hypocrites.Their confession did not match their lifestyles, behavior or actions. They lacked Godly integrity.
~ Lack of Integrity raises doubt in regards to your dependability and faithfulness. Proverbs 25:19
It is difficult to depend on someone who is unfaithful in word. This creates instability in regards to their trustworthiness. They say one thing, or commit to something, but don’t follow it up with their actions. They aren’t committed to keeping their words. They will tell you anything and commit to anything. Yet they are unfaithful to preform or do it. They lack Godly integrity.
~ Lack of integrity opens the door to being a liar. Proverbs 12:22
A lie is a declared deception and misrepresentation of the truth.The words of a person who is a liar have no weight or value. They will say or tell you anything to suit their situation. You can't trust them to tell you the truth. Telling the truth is critical in any relationship or business. The last thing you want to be known as is a liar.A liar is the opposite of Godly integrity. That's one reason why God hates lying. Proverbs 6:16-17Those that lie lack Godly integrity.
There is a need for a greater growth of Godly integrity in every area of our lives as believers
Whether people agree with your faith or not, they respect moral genuineness and faithfulness to keep your word and commitments.And they respect that you are who you say you are in your behavior and actions. This impacts marriages, levels of respect, your job, relationships, business and your relationship with God. Growing in Godly integrity can impact every area of our livesnaturally and spiritually.
Godly integrity speaks to our consistency of moral character and Godly standards.
It means to live consistently blameless and upright in regards to our motives. Godly integrity speaks to God's inward conviction in our heart that leads us to do the right thing.This applies when people are around us or not. Or whether they know it or not. Godly integrity moves us tobe right with God in His eyes;Proverbs 15:3. We’re not looking for ways to deceive or get away with things. That's lack of Godly integrity.We want our hearts motives to be right in regards to God’s standards, righteousness and His right and wrong.
Look at King Abimelech in Genesis 20:1-5
Abimelech looked at Sarah, Abraham's wife and liked what he saw. Initially Abraham had told him that she was his sister, so Abimelech wanted to make her his wife. Yet, this was Abraham’s wife, making Abimelech’s choice wrong, putting him in danger of being judged by God.Yet, because of the integrity of his heart, God warned him and did not judge him. Abimelech expressed his anger and instructed them to leave. God honors integrity.
Our integrity speaks to our behavior around others as well.
Here is where our integrity comes to the forefront in our social and professional lives as the light of the world, and salt to the earth. And it determines the statue of our witness.
- Do you do the right thing when no one else would know?
- Are you the same person you declare you are when no one else is looking or around you?
- Does your confession of faith as a Christian match your behavior when we are around co-workers, friends, customers, or piers?
Godly integrity maintains God's standards and behavior no matter where you are or who is around you.
This was the reason Paul rebuked Peter in Galatians 2:11-21
Peter got around his countrymen and fell back into their religious customs. Not realizing that all of the customs that they established and even those given to them by God were completed inthe death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.They were types and shadows of Jesus. Once He came, they were not needed, and had no effect with God. Peter had no need to go back to them.Our faith should be in Jesus only. Peter knew this. Yet, he needed to grow in Godly integrity and live according to his faith no matter who he was around.
Godly integrity is the thread woven in our hearts that guides our convictions and behavior.Proverbs 11:3
Godly integrity speaks to who we say we are by our actions and behavior. It dose not matter who we are around or if no one is around. Godly integrity leads and guides our actions according to God's standards.
Again, Godly integrity defines our faithfulness over our words and commitments. Jeremiah 1:12
God and His words are one. And He keeps His word. We should be mimicking God and doing the same.When you give your word, be mindful to put all you are behind it to keep it.Become one with your words.This takes discipline and requires thatyou think first before you speak or commit to things.
When you arecommitted to keeping your word, those around you will have a greater level of trust and confidence in you.
Whether your keeping your vows in marriage, a commitment to a friend, keeping your word on on your job, in business or even unto the Lord, be mindful to keep your word and commitments. Its all about your integrity.Look at these text Numbers 30:2 / Deuteronomy 23:23 /Ecclesiastes 5:2-7
Godly integrity actually can impact your quality of life economically.
Consider our credit system here in the United States, and how it impacts our lives. Our credit worthiness is determined by our ability to pay our bills according to the commitment we agreed to when we created the debt. How you keep your commitment in this regard impacts your credit score. Pay according to your agreement your score goes up. Don't pay according to the agreement and your score goes down.This impact the interest rate you may pay on your car, credit card or home. Actually, some perspective employees check applicants credit now. Godly integrity can impact your quality of life, job, business, relationships and more.
It's not just about paying bills on time, which you should be doing. It's about walking in Godly integrity by keeping your word. Godly integrity impactsand touches so many areas of our lives.
When we are committed to keeping our word, we are viewed as someone who is dependable and reliable.
People can count on you. This applies to personal relationships, as people can count on your word. It applies to church, as you demonstrate your faithfulness.It applies to business as you back up your work and product in regards to the products effectiveness and your commitment to make sure things go accordingly.
People gravitate to companies and people who keep their word; they can depend and trust them. This is Godly integrity in action, impacting you rlife.
When a company puts their logo on a product its their stamp of approval and commitment.
They are declaring that this product will perform accord to what they said it would do. And that logo is their stamp of approval and commitment to stand behind it and make sure that it does. Most productive businesses stand behind their words.The logo that we see on the product speaks to that. If they operate in integrity the product will do what they declared it would do. Their logo is a stamp that represents their integrity. Good businesses try to operate in a high level of integrity.
Pause before giving your word or commitment to make sure that you can perform it.
This invokes a kingdom principle called Counting the Cost. Luke 14:27-31Although this text is speaking about the cost of following Jesus, its principle of counting the cost applies to us keeping ourwords and commitments as well. Ask yourself; can I do what I am about to commit to? Don’t write a check with your words that your actions cannot cash. Yes, this takes discipline, but it’s your integrity that's on the line. You should want to operate in a high level of integrity. As your father God does.
Train yourself to commit to perform your commitments and words.Your dependability is based on your faithfulness to keep your word and commitment. And faithfulness is Godly integrity in action.
God honors and favors those who operate in Godly integrity.
God will favor and honor those who walk in Godly integrity. He loves those who keep their word. And He can trust those who will not waiver in their standards and convictions. God looks at the faithfulness and heart of man. In the face of challenging times or when your humanity is looking to subvert your integrity, choose the integrity of God.He honors those who operate in integrity.Look at these text: 1 Kings 9:1-5 /Psalm 41:11-13
As ambassadors, we re-present God to the people. We do this best by operating in God's integrity.In doing so, we re-present God well and are good witnesses for Christ and the kingdom of God.
In many cases, Godly integrity distinguishes the people of God from the world.
People should be able to look upon our lives and witness a firm standard of Gods morals and character. And we should be the picture of dependability and faithfulness over our words and commitments. And as believers, we should be who we declare we are in behavior, actions and lifestyle, walking in Christ-likeness. We do this best by growing and walking in Godly integrity. This is a part of us putting on Christ.Romans 13:14
Grow in God's Integrity.
It will influence your behavior, impact your life naturally and spiritually, garner respect and trustworthinessfrom others and it will open the door to God's influence in your life.
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Integrity quotes
- The first key to greatness is to be in reality what we appear to be. [Socrates]
- Integrity is not so much what we do as much as who we are. [John Maxwell]
- The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he would never be found out.[Thomas Macauley]
- Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is. [Billy Graham]
