Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: and his children are blessed after him (KJV). Walking with integrity does not just affect us; it influences those who are around us, especially our loved ones. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children . . .” Part of that inheritance is integrity, and integrity makes for a very rich inheritance indeed! Those who walk with integrity are looked upon more favorably than those who do not are, and those who are raised in a household known for its integrity tend to be looked upon more favorably than those who are not. We have all heard the phrase, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” As a son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, it is a sweet thing to hear other people speak well of a parent or grandparent. Keep in mind that this is not limited to natural born children; it also includes spiritual children that the Lord may place in our lives.
Integrity is a spiritual preservative for those who walk in it, as it written, “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee” (Psalm 25:21, KJV). We all want the best for our loved ones, and that includes a long prosperous life. Integrity has that influence, so it should be something that each of us maintains. Those who wait on the Lord will also walk with integrity; otherwise, it is vanity. If we fail to maintain integrity, we close the door to blessings untold. If the works of one’s hands were to begin to fail to prosper, or peace begins to elude him, it would be a good time to examine his heart. It could possibly be a sign.
OK, what is integrity and how does one walk in it? Generally, it means innocence of heart, simplicity versus having an evil intent. It has firm adherence to sound moral or righteous values, and is incorruptible. It is undivided by nature, and does not have ulterior motives. Integrity is honest and is void of manipulation. It is sound and without flaw. It points to having a pure heart before God. Walking with integrity calls for an honest assessment of the self, and our approach will be two-fold. First, we must realize that we do not have the capacity walk with integrity, much less maintain it in our own strength. We need the power of God in our lives to accomplish this. Secondly, we need an honest assessment of what is in our heart. That too requires Someone greater than us. The standard in which integrity is maintained must be His; otherwise, it would be an exercise in futility. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12, KJV).
As a point of encouragement, remember that, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:3-4, KJV, emphases mine). God has given everything we need to walk with integrity by His grace through faith. Simply put, when we walk in the Spirit we walk with integrity. However, it still comes down to a decision on our part to do so, and ours alone. Even with a rich inheritance, the individual has to make his or own decision; it cannot be made by anyone else.
Romans chapter 6 gives us key to walking with integrity, and it has to do with to whom we present ourselves to obey. If we present ourselves as servants unto God and His righteousness, we will serve Him and walk righteously. If however, we present ourselves as servants unto sin, we will serve sin and walk disobediently. Likewise, if we present ourselves to serve with integrity, we will walk with it. God has given us the power to choose. As verse 14 put it, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” To obey means to believe with the intent to conform to wishes or desires of a Superior (God) out of a heart of love. When we choose to believe His Word, we are free walk in His principles and that includes integrity.
When examining our hearts, we really do need the Holy Spirit to show us what is in them. When man is left to himself to carry out this task, he tends to overlook those things that are not very complimentary to say the least. With it comes rationalization and self-deception. When one refuses to see what needs to be seen in order to bring correction, self-deception has already begun. We must be willing to see in order to see clearly. Conversely, it is possible to look for something that does not exist, and even by the mere suggestion of the possibility something is amiss, one can come to believe something really is. This is an illusion, also known as a stronghold: something we hold to be true that is a falsehood. In our humanity we can deny something that is there, or convince ourselves something is there that really is not.
The Holy Spirit will expose anything that keeps us from walking with integrity. Some of those things range from having fear to having a lust, from holding onto pride, to walking in self-deception, to name a few. If we are going walk with integrity, we need to get honest with God and with ourselves. We have the power to decide!
www.perfectfaith.org
