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INTEGRITY {Job 2:3} "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." As we read in the Bible about the devastating trials Job experienced, we see a man living to please the Lord God Almighty but at the same time losing everything in the world onto which he could possibly hold. We see that everyone remaining in his life, his wife and friends, were adding even more negatively to the intensity of his dilemma. We see that through it all, by maintaining constant communication with God, Job maintained his integrity and did not compromise his relationship with the Lord. Integrity is not what forms our relationship with God. Our relationship with God is what forms our integrity. Dictionaries agree that the main definition of integrity is "the state of being complete or undivided." Those who maintain a complete and undivided relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will have the highest standards of integrity. The idea is that we would have singleness of heart and or mind. The temptations that we meet always try to make us waver in what we know God has told us to do. When it is tax time, do we give unto Caesar what is Caesar's? When we say we will be somewhere at a certain time, are we punctual? When the opportunity for fun arises, do we abandon the fellowship of the saints? Are our hearts and minds truly set upon being undivided in what we think, speak, and do? {Titus 2:6-8}" Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." If we are to be any kind of example of true Christianity, we must walk according to the standard of integrity given to us in the Holy Scriptures. At times, I hear people say that they agree with the Word of God and then turn around and do something totally contrary to what they just said. I am not talking about deliberate sin, but more of what seems to be a lack of single-mindedness. If we truly could get the understanding that even in the little ways we must maintain an attitude to "mean what we say and say what we mean," then in no way would we bring reproach upon ourselves or the Lord. But as it is written: {Song 2:15}"...The little foxes spoil the vine..." What is God saying? Keep your integrity, don't waver in your thinking, speaking, or actions; be consistent even in the small things. As it is written: {Luke 16:10} " He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." - Kurt Thurston
April 1996 Newsletter | The Cave Season | Pastor's Journal April 1995 Integrity | Earthly Distractions | Preparing and Prepared part 4 of 4 Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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