AUG. 31: INTEGRITY

Focal Passage: I Peter 3:8-17

Remember Bernie Madoff? He was the financier who stole millions from hundreds through a Ponzi scheme that was sinister and shocking. Madoff’s sinister deeds were kept secret from everyone save a few co-conspirators, even family members, by hiding his shenanigans on the 13th floor of a nondescript building. No one was allowed on that floor except for Madoff’s fellow criminals. That floor housed a small team of employees who managed client accounts and financial records, often working in secrecy. Madoff hid his lack of integrity on that 13th floor.

Integrity is a lost character trait in our world. Integrity has its spiritual cousins — truth, reliability, maturity, wisdom, and discretion. No one reaches any of these perfectly. But we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. 

No one is completely good or perfect. Yet, God calls every believer to always live a life of integrity — “the same Christ-centered life in all places at all times.” Integrity is a learned, spirit-empowered character trait. Integrity can be viewed as the totality of the fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer (Galatians 5:22-26). How does one build a life of integrity?

I Peter 3:8-12 — A life of integrity pursues goodness and righteousness. Our text notes that we are to pursue righteousness and godliness: unity of mind, brotherly love, tenderheartedness, lack of vengeance, a mouth that does not speak evil, and an understanding of life through the prism of God’s truth from God’s Word. It is something to be desired, to be pursued with all our time and energy. Integrity once lost, like trust, is nearly impossible to rebuild.

I Peter 3:13-15 — A life of integrity is centered in the lordship of Jesus Christ. As we grow in being zealous for godliness there will be roadblocks and accusations – “Oh, you think you’re better than everyone else, right?” “You’re a goody-two-shoes.” How do we confront those things that seek to compromise our integrity? Verse 15 is a classic response. First, we honor Christ the Lord as holy in our hearts. Second, we ready ourselves to give an answer as to the hope we have in Christ. Third, our response to the questions of what we believe and why we live the way we do is rooted in truth and offered with gentleness and respect. Jesus is the centerpiece of our integrity.

I Peter 3:16-17 — A life of integrity withstands scrutiny and criticism. Yes, when we live a life of integrity we will be accused of thinking we’re better than others. But true integrity can endure such criticism because we have a clear conscience before God and man. In fact, even if we suffer for doing right that is far better than suffering for doing evil. Maintaining one’s integrity in Christ is far better than selling out to worldly pressures.

All of us are tempted to have a 13th floor in our lives where secret sins are hidden from plain view. This is a tragic mistake. The enticement to compromise one’s integrity ends up being a Ponzi scheme of Satan that will eventually be revealed in public. The consequences will be deadly and costly. Let Christ rule in our hearts as Lord, enabling us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, maintaining our integrity no matter what bribes the world offers to us to compromise who we are and what we believe. B&R