What Is Integrity?

Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS

Men used to be commended for their level of integrity and one's handshake was considered a man’s bond. As societies continue to crumble from the pollution of immorality, men of integrity are quickly disappearing. Unfortunately, churches seem far from immune to this moral decline. What is integrity? In a narrow sense, integrity as used in scripture can be difficult to pinpoint. The word integrity occurs sixteen times in scripture. By considering each occurrence, one can discover clues that provide insight as to its meaning. Integrity is contrasted with the words like perverse (Proverbs 19:1) and perverseness (Proverbs 11:3). Conversely, integrity is used in conjunction with words like upright (Job 2:3; Proverbs 11:3) and uprightness (1 Kings 9:4; Psalm 25:21). In our passage, the word integrity is used alongside the word innocency (Genesis 20:5). These facts would lead the believer to realize that integrity speaks of a moral purity and moral correctness.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): David said, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way" (Psalm 101:2). The Lord wants what we say and do to be correct and right at all times.

• (For everyone): If integrity has to do with being morally correct, why is this so very important to us as followers of Christ? What are some instances that showed the Lord Jesus demonstrating integrity while on earth?

• Would people be more likely to describe you as perverse or innocent? How could you change the way people think of you if their view of you is not in accordance with the Bible standards?

PRAYER THOUGHTS

• Ask the Lord to do a work of purification within your heart.

• Ask God to show you the sinfulness of your heart.

SONG: Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Pastor Andrew Ray

Devotions on Integrity