INTEGRITY

The ROOT WORD for integrity is INTEGER - a WHOLE NUMBER, a COMPLETE ENTITY :) No “waffling”, no lying, no deception . . . you ARE who you propose (pretend) to be ! ! !

Scripture:

Prov 11:3 (KJV)

3 The INTEGRITY of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Prov 11:3 (NIV)

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their DUPLICITY.

HISTORICAL People of Integrity:

You may know someone who has been a PILLAR of integrity - cherish that relationship or that memory, for even the Bible says,

Prov 20:6

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

(KJV)

It saddened me to note that I had a difficult time picking out ANYONE who to me was a GREAT example of integrity besides JESUS: sadly enough, I know enough about many Christian leaders to have eliminated them - I picked these three:

Billy Graham, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington

More Scripture:

Prov 19:1 (KJV)

1 BETTER is the poor that walketh in his INTEGRITY, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Prov 28:6 (KJV)

6 BETTER is the poor that walketh in his UPRIGHTNESS (SAME WORD - INTEGRITY), than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

BIBLE Examples of people with INTEGRITY:

Joseph:

Gen 39:1-14 (NIV)

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,

4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

6 So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

7 and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"

8 But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.

9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"

10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.

12 She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,

14 she called her household servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.

Next Scriptures:

Prov 16:32 (KJV)

32 He that is slow to anger is BETTER than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

James 1:19 (KJV)

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Prov 14:29 (KJV)

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

One more BIBLE man of INTEGRITY:

Daniel:

Dan 6:8-26 (KJV)

8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Final scriptures:

Prov 25:28 (KJV)

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Prov 11:13

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

(KJV)