"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways or speech" (Proverbs 28:6, Proverbs 19:1).
Integrity is defined as the state or quality of being entire, complete, or whole.[1] A second definition states it is being of moral soundness; honest; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts.[1] There are many verses in the bible about integrity.[2] As believers, everything we do in the workplace or marketplace should be done with integrity, we are to commit our work to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3). We can not separate business from personal, as we should not separate who we are on Sunday from who we are on Monday. A common phrase used, "it is business, nothing personal", should never come from our mouth.
"And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason” (Job 2:3). We see from Job's council of friends, that he was not given good advice. The advice seemed wise and acceptable to man but not to God, He rebuked his friends for giving Job ungodly advice (Job 42:8). Job held fast to his integrity and God rewards him with a deeper relationship. Job stated, "I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear;but now my eye sees you" (Job 42:5).
God blesses those who walk in Integrity. "And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules...‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’" (1 Kings 9:4-6). Integrity to God is following his instructions of living upright and good (Psalm 119:1-2). God promises to bless us and our children; "a righteous man who walks in his integrity-- how blessed are his sons after him" (Proverbs 20:7). We must always seek his advice as his ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must trust in God, not our own understanding, if we acknowledge him in all our ways he promises to direct our path (Proverbs 3:5-6).
"By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever" (Psalm 41:11-12).
[1] Webster. "Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1913". G & C. Merriam Co., 1913
[2] OpenBible.info. "Integrity". http://www.openbible.info/topics/integrity (accessed Feb 1, 2013)
Integrity is defined as the state or quality of being entire, complete, or whole.[1] A second definition states it is being of moral soundness; honest; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts.[1] There are many verses in the bible about integrity.[2] As believers, everything we do in the workplace or marketplace should be done with integrity, we are to commit our work to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3). We can not separate business from personal, as we should not separate who we are on Sunday from who we are on Monday. A common phrase used, "it is business, nothing personal", should never come from our mouth.
"And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason” (Job 2:3). We see from Job's council of friends, that he was not given good advice. The advice seemed wise and acceptable to man but not to God, He rebuked his friends for giving Job ungodly advice (Job 42:8). Job held fast to his integrity and God rewards him with a deeper relationship. Job stated, "I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear;but now my eye sees you" (Job 42:5).
God blesses those who walk in Integrity. "And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules...‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’" (1 Kings 9:4-6). Integrity to God is following his instructions of living upright and good (Psalm 119:1-2). God promises to bless us and our children; "a righteous man who walks in his integrity-- how blessed are his sons after him" (Proverbs 20:7). We must always seek his advice as his ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must trust in God, not our own understanding, if we acknowledge him in all our ways he promises to direct our path (Proverbs 3:5-6).
"By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever" (Psalm 41:11-12).
[1] Webster. "Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1913". G & C. Merriam Co., 1913
[2] OpenBible.info. "Integrity". http://www.openbible.info/topics/integrity (accessed Feb 1, 2013)