THE QUEST FOR HOLINESS, INSTALLMENT THREE: INTEGRITY

Perhaps another important ingredient to true holiness could be found in the pursuit of integrity.

Integrity is being consistent, being a person of my word, letting my “yes” be “yes” and my “no” be “no.” James says that anything less is of the devil, Jesus said that being a person of integrity in this way means that I don’t need to swear in order for someone to take me seriously. Paul said that a worldly way of making plans is to say “yes” and “no” at the same time. Anything less than this is called hypocrisy, and is not dealt with sympathetically by the Bible or the early church leaders.

I say “pursuit of integrity” because I’m not sure that anyone ever truly achieves that kind of consistent integrity.

I have many times made a commitment to do something I didn’t actually feel led to do, simply because I wanted to be liked by the person who was asking something of me. I said “yes” with my mouth while my heart was saying “no.” I was a manfearer and fell into a trap.

Worse yet, I have committed to doing something, but haven’t followed through on my promise (which is what my “yes” should always be). I swore to my own hurt, and then changed. According to the psalmist, I will not stand on the hill of the Lord or abide in His dwelling place because of my inconsistency.

Integrity is also saying difficult things to someone’s face, and not behind his or her back. Too often, it is the other way around. An enemy multiplies kisses, but the wounds of a friend can be trusted. I fear that almost every church and business and friendship, and even extended families, function this way. We don’t think of any of this as a lack of integrity, in danger of condemning our souls to hell for eternity.

So, why is it so common to lack integrity? Why did Solomon say that he could only find one righteous man in a thousand, but not even one righteous woman? Because he had only seen maybe one man of integrity in his life. I submit that perhaps that man was Jonathan, who pledged himself in friendship to Solomon’s father, David. He had been true. On the other hand, Solomon had a thousand wives, and he had not seen any of them with the loyalty of his father’s lifelong friend.

“LORD, let me be a man of my word, a man for all seasons. Let me be someone that people and You can bank on. This is my sincere goal. Guide me to it by Your Spirit of Holiness, who will guide me in all truth. Amen.”
-ker