UPRIGHTNESS PAYS: CELEBRATING INTEGRITY

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace – Psalm 37:37

Psalm 15 testifies to the completeness of the Person of Integrity:  “He who WALKS uprightly, and WORKS righteousness, and SPEAKS the truth in his heart” (Psa. 15:2). This is the one that is entitled to access God’s Presence: upright walk; righteous works; truthful communication; and loving disposition. Integrity embodies this entire person, not just part of him. A person of Integrity is honest and upright through and through – inside and in outer action. God is the Model of Integrity: He can be trusted because He is trustworthy; not just in words, but in character. Biblical integrity is not just doing the right thing; it’s a matter of having the right heart and allowing who you are on the inside to match who you are on the outside. This is how God is; and how His children should be.

Integrity also conveys the idea of Consistency: that is, between what is inside and what is outside; between belief and behaviour; our attitudes and our actions; our words and our ways; our values and our practice. God is absolutely consistent: His behaviour and actions always match His nature and character. It is not possible to manipulate, bribe or bargain with Him, because He will never compromise His perfect Integrity; hence our trust in Him! God is Integrity! He does not merely act with integrity; integrity is His character. Integrity is about ethics and morality. Ethics refers to a standard of right and wrong, good and evil. Morality is a lived standard of right and wrong, good and evil. Integrity means “sound, complete, integrated” – the extent that a person’s ethics and morality are integrated. His walk matched His talk – his high and holy ethics (Lk.6:46)!

These are the qualities that people want most in a leader. They know their interests are safe in his hands; that he will not betray or sell them out or tire of serving them. If people are going to follow someone, whether into battle or in business or ministry, they want assurance that their leader can be trusted; that he or she will keep promises and follow through with commitments. A hypocrite is unqualified to guide others towards attaining higher character. No one respects a person who talks a good game but fails to play by the rules. Promises and commitments are vital, but in these days of Machiavellian ethics, they seem to have become optional. Many give lip-service to character, but elevate convenience and performance. They believe that when things get tough, rules can be changed and commitments and covenants may be discarded at will.

Samuel exuded Integrity; hence Israel’s high regard for him (1 Sam.12:1-4). During his farewell speech, after having led Israel for decades, he promised to repay anything he had unfairly taken from anyone. What a testimony! Even more remarkable was the people’s response. Not one person rose up to make a claim against Samuel. His integrity permeated every aspect of his life: how he regarded his possessions, business dealings, and his treatment of those who were weaker than himself. He opened himself up to the scrutiny of everyone with whom he had ever related. He held himself accountable to his followers. That’s a terrific testimony of Integrity!

Beloved, ask yourself: “How do I live when no one’s looking? What’s my secret life like?” That’s the ultimate test of Integrity and Uprightness! In the long haul, Integrity pays and Uprightness is rewarding. In the Land of Uprightness, you are guaranteed divine guidance, preservation, and generational blessings (Psa.25:21; Pro.11:3; 20:7). Your reward is Peace!