(by pastor Jean)

Integrity. It’s not a word that might give you warm fuzzy feelings but it is none the less a character trait that goes right along with honesty and it means to be thoroughly trustworthy. The Oxford Language Dictionary definition of integrity is, “The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, moral uprightness.” The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about integrity. God bestows good on those who live with integrity (Prov 13:21), He protects them (Prov 2:7), they will live in safety (Prov 10:9), they will receive guidance (Prov 11:3), the person of integrity fears the Lord (Prov 14:2), their children will be happy (Prov 20:7) and they will be helped (Prov 28:18). The book of Proverbs also talks a lot about the “righteous man” who would also be a person of integrity; that person hates lying and deceit (Prov 13:5). Several Bible people are noted for their integrity, amongst them – Job, David and Joseph. “The Lord said to satan, have you considered my servant Job? No one on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears the Lord and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8; CSB). About David, God said, “He walked with a heart of integrity and in what is right, doing everything I have commanded” (1 Kings 9:4; CSB). Joseph also showed great integrity by refusing to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife (Gen 39). To live a life of integrity demands discipline but nevertheless it pleases God (1 Chron 29:17) and brings glory to His name.