Wisdom for Integrity

Wisdom for Integrity

Integrity Defined

The Hebrew words translated integrity mean the condition of being without blemish, simple, complete, perfect, sound, morally upright, whole.

• An integer is a whole number. A person with integrity is a whole and undivided person. • Christ’s righteousness makes us “upright.” A Christian’s integrity keeps them upright.

“In order to understand integrity, we must first realize that two forces are at work in our world today: (1) God is putting things together; and (2) sin is tearing things apart. God wants to make us integers; Satan want to make us fractions… Integrity is to character what health is to the body or 20/20 vision is to the eyes. A person with integrity is not divided (that's duplicity) or merely pretending (that's hypocrisy). He or she is ‘whole.’…People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Their lives are open books.” - Warren Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis

1. Integrity is Moral

Proverbs 19.1, “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than a person who is perverse in speech and is a fool.” Proverbs 28:6, “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity, than a person who is crooked, though he is rich.” • Crooked means, “two ways.”

2. Integrity is Moral

Proverbs 10:9, “One who walks in integrity walks securely, but one who perverts his ways will be found out.”

3. Integrity Is Moral

Proverbs 11:3, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them.” Proverbs 2:9, “Then you will discern righteousness, justice, and integrity, and every good path.”

4. Integrity Provides Divine

Proverbs 2:7 (NASB), “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. 8 guarding the paths of justice, and He watches over the way of His godly ones.” Proverbs 29:27, “…one who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.”

5. Integrity Leaves a Lasting

Proverbs 20:7, “A righteous person who walks in his integrity — how blessed are his sons after him.”

CONCLUSION

1 Timothy 4:16, “Pay to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

Chuck Colson, “The three most important ingredients in Christian work are integrity, integrity, integrity…. Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity, than straightforward and simple integrity in another.”