Integrity: August 24, 2010

Today's Word for Tuesday August 24, 2010

INTEGRITY

DEFINITION

Uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

SCRIPTURE

"Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you noticed my friend Job? There is no one quite like him, honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity. You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it did not work.'" Job 2:3

"The man of integrity walks securely, but he who walks crooked paths will be found out." Proverbs 10:9

"In my integrity You uphold me and see me in Your presence forever." Psalm 41:2

"I have walked in my integrity, I have trusted the Lord." Psalm 26:1

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

It is very difficult today to find a person with integrity. We have heard some say that you can not be successful in life unless you cut corners somewhere. We have always felt and tried to practice being honest and forthright to all that we meet with daily. Being a person of integrity is one of the most important characteristics one can have in life.

As it says in Proverbs 10:9, when we have integrity we can walk securely because we do not have to worry that we will be found out and our dishonesty will be revealed. When a person loses his or her integrity it is almost impossible to get it back.

Children today make their choices in life based on what they see their parents do. They can see when items come home from the office that does not belong to them. They can see when a parent short changes a friend. If a parent compromises his or her integrity, the first to see it is a child or a spouse. Children and parents today live in a "ME" generation where the end result is that if I benefit it is all right and they show no concern if it compromises their integrity.

In Exodus 20 you will find the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses. These were given to us so that we may know what God expects of us. When any of these commandments are broken, the integrity of the one that broke that commandment has been tarnished. Every day we have temptations come our way and if we yield to them we will be breaking God's law. And that is where the Lord comes in, as we make Him part of our daily life, to help us withstand temptation and keep our integrity. God honors those that honor Him.

Psalm 41:12 is a reminder to us that God rewards integrity. The Bible gives instance after instance of God's blessing on the lives of people who serve the Lord with integrity. Look at the story of Job and be reminded how God rewarded him because he held on to his integrity through probably the most difficult series of testing that any one has gone through.

In Genesis 39, we are given an example of integrity as seen in the life of Joseph. Potiphar trusted Joseph because of his integrity and put him in charge of his house and all that he had. When Pontiphar's wife tried to seduce him, Joseph refused her quickly and firmly by saying he could not sin against God and his master. He knew God's standard and chose to stand for right. That is INTEGRITY!

NO LEGACY IS AS RICH AS ONES INTEGRITY

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in Ephesians 6:10.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

PRAYER

Give me strength this day to live each moment with integrity. May my words and deeds honor You. I ask for Your protection as I face temptations today. Bless my family and my world and give me opportunities to show my integrity to others so You can be seen through me today.