Integrity Issues

 “Sir, I have a question”, said one of my students “suppose we were visited by armed robbers, who requested for our belongings and I have two phones but hid one and only presented the other as all I had”, Do I have integrity? The student’s question was a very interesting one.

We were discussing the integrity example of Samuel. To buttress the lesson and to show how integrity “is way beyond saying, we will come to your streets and raid and rape and steal by next week. Signed – Armed robbers”. And then, next week, in keeping to their words they came and stole, raped and raided the street. Is that integrity?

The problem of corruption in Nigeria is a problem of lack of integrity! From God’s stand point of view, integrity is a departure from sin and a consistent embrace of God’s righteous words in an individual, public and private life. Can an unbeliever who is naturally careless be a person of integrity? Not impossible. He may conduct his public life and particularly his transparent and accountable ways in a manner that’s praise worthy! That notwithstanding, in other areas of His life, and as far as God is concerned, the man is certainly not a person of integrity! Why? Because “integrity is not subjective; it’s a matter of obedience to God!”

Integrity is a matter of choosing obedience to God’s word, over and above personal gain. Integrity is preferring to be poor rather than to be a liar. Integrity is living blamelessly, and beyond reproach! Integrity is doing all things to the Glory of God. However, in the world we live in today, integrity will cost us, at some points. Though it would pay off on the long run as is usually all God’s ways! We do not always get instantaneous rewards for every obedience to God, but God who cannot lie is always ever a rewarder of them that diligently obey/seek Him.

Integrity would not always be a strait jacket affair in this crooked world. Rehab took the initiative and hid the two Israeli spies and lied that they were not at her place anymore. Samuel was told by God to say that he had come to make sacrifices, though the major/primary business was to anoint David a king?

How does one tick the box of integrity in these situations? Whenever we choose to align ourselves to God’s purposes, and in bid to uphold righteousness, the Holy Spirit will guide us in how to choose to obey & please him in integrity! Rehab acted righteously and so did Samuel because when Human laws/words conflict with God’s, we must prefer the latter. Receive grace for integrity!