Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”
Integrity is doing what is right, and doing so even when no one is looking. One will have a reputation, yes, a character, that makes one trustworthy and reliable. The idea of integrity is to be completely complete. The idea is there are no holes in your life. Nothing sketchy. There is no corruption. There are no hidden sins.
Our verse conveys that integrity brings many benefits. There is the personal benefit of not having anything to worry about as Proverbs 10:9 says one walks securely. Integrity brings inward peace as you don’t have to worry about being caught. You know when someone goes looking into your “closet” they will find it clean!
There are also benefits for others as by living with integrity others are blessed.
Proverbs 20:7 says, “The one who lives with integrity is righteous; his children who come after him will be blessed.”
However, if one is crooked, one will be found out. Sooner or later the truth of Numbers 32:23 is going to happen! You do know Numbers 32:23? It says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Sooner or later, what is done in the dark will come to light. The lie will be exposed, and the truth revealed. The crooked will be caught!
For example, we have ripped from the headlines a story that tells of cheating in a fishing tournament. Yep. There was cheating in a fishing tournament up at Lake Erie. A couple of fishermen were caught stuffing their fish at the Lake Erie Walleye Trail in Ohio with lead weights, fish fillets, and other debris in order to win a financial prize for the heaviest fish. One person noticed that another person’s fish looked larger than the winner’s fish so they cut open the “winning” fish and found a weight inside. Talk about Proverbs 10:9b happening. The crooked fisherman was caught!
How important is living with integrity to you? Are you doing right even when no one is looking? Are you doing wrong things wondering when will someone see?
A life of influence (and enjoyment) begins with living a life of integrity!
“It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin.” F. B. Meyers
Continue Strong with a life of integrity!
And remember to DATE the Word