The long political season is in full bloom around us. The candidates are in mid- season form as they and their surrogates exchange charges and counter charges with their opponents. On a daily basis we have new accusations involving each candidate’s integrity. The “spin” is not that lies were told but that individuals misspoke or had a memory lapse of some sort. Finding truth in the midst of a political campaign is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.
A sad fact in politics is that one of the first casualties of any campaign is the candidate’s integrity. Unfortunately, this political season seems to be no exception. As a society, we have come to expect a lack of integrity from our elected officials, therefore, we are not surprised or disappointed when it comes to light. Sadly, we seem to willingly accept this lack of integrity as normal instead of demanding better from those who desire the great privilege and responsibility of leading us.
In contrast to our society’s standards for those who would lead us are God’s clear demands for integrity. As King Solomon was ascending to the throne of Israel the Lord set forth His conditions for blessing and prospering Solomon’s kingdom. He said, “Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom…”(1 Kings 9:4-5a) In Psalm 78:72 we get a little more insight into David’s leadership when it says “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”
Integrity from a Biblical standpoint is important because of what it means and what it implies. The Hebrew word for integrity is “tom” and it means “soundness” and “completeness”. Someone with integrity doesn’t lie, deceive, or swindle because, spiritually speaking, they are complete. Their heart is sound. They don’t have gaps in their character. Character flaws and defects cannot help but affect someone’s behavior. A sound and complete heart, a heart of integrity, grows out of respect and reverence for God and His Word.
Life is filled with many challenges. There are many pitfalls and snags that can easily derail us. Integrity is an indispensable quality that keeps us on the right track. Proverbs 11:3 tells us that “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” King David beseeches the Lord to “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You” (Psalm 25:21). He prays “Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.” (Psalm 26:1).
Integrity is not just something that is of benefit to the one who possesses it. It is also of great benefit to those around that individual. Specifically, this soundness of heart follows the family of the person who has integrity. In Proverbs 20:7 we read, “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” Integrity then, is critical not just for public officials but also for parents.
The concept of living a life of integrity comes into play in yet another area. When it is all said and done we will be judged by our integrity. Psalm 7:8 says “The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.” Scripture lets us know in no uncertain terms that “man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart”. When we are judged, our soundness, our completeness, our lack of hypocrisy, will be what God evaluates.
As far as God is concerned integrity is one of, if not the most, important quality for us to possess in terms of character. We see how valuable he considers it in Proverbs 19:1 where we read “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.” In other words, the one who “walks the talk” is better than the one who “talks the walk” no matter how good his/her talk is.
This is probably why Job clings to his integrity so tenaciously. In the midst of his suffering he says, “Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me” (Job 27:5). Later he proclaims “Let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity” (Job 31:6).
Almost all the verses for this study on integrity are found in the wisdom books of Scripture. If you or I are to be wise people we are going to have to be people of integrity. Begin to pray this very day that God will help each of us to be just that. May who we say we are as Christians line up with who we really are in heart. And as that sound heart guides and directs our words and deeds, our reputation will not require defense or spin.
Dave Watson, An Urban Christian
