Integrity- WALK IT OUT- THURSDAY
Integrity
by
Rocky Fleming
Thursday - Walk It Out
So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it ... (Proverbs 2:20-21 NIV)
Again we see "upright" and "integrity" mentioned in the same breath. It is because it is like the chicken and the egg. Who knows which comes first? We only know they are dependent on each other. But, since I am a Creationist, I believe God created the chicken first and the egg came from His creation's reproduction plan. Keep that in mind for there is a reproduction dynamic with all of God's creation, and even with fruit from our relationship with Him. (Remember the Vine and the fruit?) Another example is personal integrity. Integrity in a person reproduces integrity because it is valued and modeled. It is the same with us walking in an upright manner and walking with integrity. The upright walk is being in a right place with God. His nature of integrity is reproduced in us. Our integrity is a fruit of our relationship with Him. Therefore it starts with Him, and His attributes are transferred to us within our abiding relationship with Him. With that beginning point established, let's look at the fruit that comes from it.
There is a spiritual dynamic called the "sins of the father," which is an example of bad fruit being reproduced. This means the father and the father's father and fathers before them had a propensity toward a particular sinful behavior, and it is contagious to the children that come from them unless it is disrupted by a values shift in the ones downstream. Examples are sexual addictions, lying, cheating, and other character flaws. The following verse points out not only the effect but as well the consequence:
"You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me," (Deuteronomy 5:9 ESV)
You say that this seems so unfair, until we understand the penalty for all of this mess created by our forefathers, and readily embraced by you and me because of a depraved nature, was taken on by Jesus. He took the penalty for us. The penalty had to be paid for this legacy of sin, because God is a just God. Therefore, if anyone was unfairly treated, it was Jesus. But He didn't complain about it. He took the blows, took the nails into His hands and died for us so that the consequence would not be reality for those of us who believe that He did this for us. Still, the propensity remains in a family, a home, or a generation to carry the sins of the father forward until a transformed life begins. Then there is a reboot. A new legacy begins.
Along with a sin and flawed character propensity that a father can pass on to his children is another character trait. It is a good one. It is integrity. This is when our influence is best as a man, for we are passing along something that is beneficial for our child's lifetime, or for other people watching, and for several generations afterwards. However, integrity is less about words and more about modeling what we teach by how we act, and especially in the most trying of times. Integrity will emerge from almost countless encounters with doing the right thing in difficult situations, and especially when no one is watching and when no one cares. We are integrous because God cares about our integrity and because He cares, we care. The man of integrity has a different target for success and a different motivation for living out his life. This is when we can know a man walks with God, for He reflects the same values of God. There is no conflict, no duplicity and no fear with the outcome from doing things God's way.
The scripture above promises that a man's integrity will bless him with an inheritance. He is the man who will still be standing when all others fall away. This scripture says that the man's name and legacy will inherit a land that God will give them. I do not know the extent or the specifics of what this "land" means. All I know is that it will be God's blessings on the man and his family, because God is delighted in him. I can be satisfied with God's choice and God's determinations for my life, for He is good and His plans for me are good.
When we "walk out" our integrity before the people around us, we communicate a trustworthiness that people long to see in someone. Even common criminals and gangs have an honor code with each other for they want to be able to trust another man's integrity in their relationships. Husbands and wives long for a climate of integrity in their relationship with each other for they long to deeply trust their spouse. Employers and employees long to have integrity at the center of their relationship for it spells trust. Our personal integrity is a treasure to our spouse, our friends and our King Jesus. To lose our integrity is the greatest loss we will ever incur, for we pull a lot of people into that loss. Therefore, protect your personal integrity at all costs.