By Michael Adekoya – “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Matt. 5:37
Dear Reader, truth, honesty, trustworthiness, dependability, reliably and straightforwardness are rare character traits in the world today. We can use the word integrity to summarise all these traits or virtues. It’s now becoming very difficult to find these godly traits called integrity among the Politicians, Lawyers, Accountants, Judges, Police, Business people, Journalists, Reporters and even among Pastors not to talk of Christians these days. What do I mean by integrity? Integrity is defined as “firm adherence to a code or standard of values.” For Christians, integrity denotes firm adherence to a standard of biblical values. A key phrase in this definition is “firm adherence.” That is, as Christians our integrity is reflected in our commitment to stay true to our values regardless of the circumstances.
Why in integrity important? Integrity defines to others who you are. When someone thinks of you, inevitably, they will think about whether or not you have integrity. People want to know if you’re for real. Integrity determines how you will react in certain situations. When you are faced with circumstances where you have choice to either do right or do wrong, your integrity, or lack of it, will determine what you do. Integrity demonstrates your spiritual condition. If you have no integrity, then you have a spiritual problem, because God wants us to be righteous, that is, to have integrity as our Heavenly Father. Lack of integrity damages your testimony. If someone knows that you have no integrity, they will certainly not listen to you when you share the Gospel with them.
Furthermore, integrity pleases God. I Chro. 29:17 says, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” God is not looking for an incredible person to use for His purposes; He’s looking for a credible one. Are you one? Integrity brings blessings. Pro. 20:7 says, “The just man walketh in his integrity, his children are blessed after him”. Integrity is the standard of God’s judgement. Job 31:6 says, “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity” God does not only judge us by what we do – our actions, but also by the reasons why we do them – our motives and intentions. Also integrity protects you. Psa. 25:21 says, “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me…” A person with integrity never has to worry about what story he told to whom, because he will always be telling the same story. His integrity will protect him. And lastly integrity guides you. Pro. 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them…” Our integrity will guide our steps through life. We will not have to worry what to do in certain situations, because we always trust in God who will direct us.
My friend, you may ask that what are the important marks of integrity? Well, I shall tell you few of them.
Firstly, integrity means being the same person in front of the crowd as you are behind the scenes. When the pressure is on, what’s inside always comes out. In a crisis or under stress, it’s at such times that our actions reveal who we really are—for good or for ill. Are you the same person outside the Church? Do you live differently around different peer groups? Does your environment determine your speech, actions and deeds or are consistent no matter what? People who value integrity are the same in every crowd and when alone. That means being the same person in every environment.
Secondly, integrity means nonconformity – Rom. 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Character isn’t who we say we are. It’s who we actually are. You can fake almost anything in life, but not your character. You either have it or you don’t. Character means doing the right thing regardless of what others think. It often means standing alone and acting courageously. No matter the “smallness” of the situation, conformity is a major blow to the maturity and strength of your character. Be cautious when people begin to speak higher of themselves than others speak of them. Be more than words. Be a person of action and one whose reputation speaks for itself, not the other way around. This is where true character and integrity.
Another important mark of integrity is telling the truth even when it hurts. Pro. 12:17 says, “A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.” Another mark of integrity is that you tell the truth even when it hurts you. Integrity once it’s gone, you can never really get it back again. If you do, it will take you years. Tell the truth even when it hurts you.
Furthermore, integrity means keeping a promise when you would rather not. Psa. 15:4 says, “He who keeps his oath even when it hurts.” The man of integrity keeps his promise even when he would rather not. How do you do that? When you sign a contract, you are making a promise. When you set an appointment, you are making a promise. When you say you will be there at a certain time, you are making a promise. And the man of integrity keeps his promises even when he would rather not. Jesus says, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Matt. 5:37
You may ask that how can I keep my promises? Watch your words. Make fewer promises. If you can’t, don’t say you can. Avoid rash promises. And learn to say no whenever it’s necessary.
Another important mark of integrity is confronting the problems when it would be easier to walk away. Pro. 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Sometimes being a man or woman of integrity means that you don’t walk away from a problem. It means you see a problem and you hit it head on, when it would be easier and more convenient and pleasant to just walk away. Problems never get better when you ignore them. You may think you love someone too much to say anything. No, if you really love them, you would speak the truth. You would speak it in love, but you will speak the truth they need to hear. Integrity does not ignore the problems of life but faces it.
Lastly, due to time and space, integrity means forgiving when you’d rather hold a grudge.
First, you are to forgive because God has already forgiven you. Eph. 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”
Second, you are to forgive because you promised God you would forgive. Every time you pray the Lord’s Prayer you are promising to forgive. “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.”
Thirdly, you are to forgive because bitterness destroys, while forgiveness sets you free. As long as you hold a grudge, you are chained to the past. As long as you are angry about the way you have been treated, you are still living back in the past. Integrity chooses to forgive. Integrity means forgiving when you’d rather hold a grudge.
My friend, you may want to know how to possess this important Christian virtue or character trait. To posses integrity, firstly, you need to pursue it with all your heart. Spend your lives seeking integrity. Desire it as you make every decision. Be able to say, like David did in Psa. 26:1, “Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in mine integrity, I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide”.
Secondly, you have to protect it with all your heart. Why did I say so, because you can easily lose your integrity. If you are not careful, if you don’t seek it, and protect it daily, you may walk away from it.
Thirdly, you have to practice it with all your heart. In every decision, in every situation you find yourself in, act with integrity.
Fourthly, you have to pray for it persistently. Seek God earnestly that He will let you be a man or woman of integrity. Pray that God would use you to be an example to others of what integrity is all about.
Lastly, you need to purpose to rely and depend on the Holy Spirit. Phil. 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” By depending, obeying, listening and yielding to the Holy Spirit who is our Divine Helper, we shall be men and women of integrity.
In Conclusion, Integrity may seem hard or unattainable, but through the Grace of God, it is easy. The Holy Spirit gives you the power to be a person of unquestioned integrity. If you base your life on God’s Words and His principles, you will have a life of integrity that can change the world. If the people in your community, in your neighbourhood, in your office, in your family, know you as a man or a woman of integrity, how much easier will it be for you to share the Gospel with them than if you were known to lack integrity. Having integrity is our choice, let’s choose to pursue it. Remain blessed!
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