Proverbs 11:3, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
Has someone ever told you, “I’ll call you this week” and they never did? Or have you had a friend say, “I’ll be at your house Saturday to help you move” and they never showed up? Unfaithful people are some of the hardest people to get along with in life because they have a problem with keeping their word. They lack humility, self-awareness and don’t understand the pain they cause people in their lives.
The word integrity means, “a firm and faithful dedication to a set of morals or beliefs.” King Solomon in today’s proverb is teaching us a simple, yet powerful, benefit of having integrity; guidance.
When you’re faithful to God’s Word you will be safely guided by those principles in your life. However, if you’re unfaithful to keep God’s Word, you’ll be destroyed.
As a result, the people who are faithful to God’s Word have integrity and are called “upright” because they are lifted up and made honorable by God. However, those who are unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity (double-mindedness). To be double-minded means, “to say one thing but do another.” Look at your life and what others say about you. What kind of person are you and what kind of reputation do you have? Are you a person of integrity or duplicity?
Take a few moments to answer the following questions honestly; (1) Do people know you as someone who always keeps their word? (2) Are you dependable? (3) Are you the same person in private that you are in public? (4) Do you have the same morals and beliefs no matter who you’re with or where you are? (5) Do you have a good track record in your church, family and job for being faithful?
If you answered “no” to any of the previous questions, stop right now and ask God to change you into a person of integrity. If you continue in your double-minded ways you will suffer harm. But by God’s grace if you live an upright life with integrity, you’ll be guided on the path of life and given success. Yes, it’s true things change, people let you down and times get hard, but don’t change your morals based on what others do or don’t do. David Jeremiah said, “Integrity is keeping a commitment even after circumstances have changed.”
It’s important to remember to be a person of integrity in all you do, not just in the “big things.” Go to work on time everyday, don’t take what doesn’t belong to you (no matter how small it is), always tell the truth (even if it hurts), keep your word to return calls and show up when you say you will. People are watching you, so be a great example of what a person with integrity looks like. For most people, you’re the only representation of Jesus they’ll see today!
Reflection
Are you a person of integrity?
Action
- Repent of any unfaithfulness in your life.
- Ask God to make you faithful.
- Live your life with integrity because people are watching you!
