Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Possessing Godly Integrity

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/26/22

Finding people with integrity in this day and age is a daunting task. While many people may desire to live with integrity, they fall short when they are put to the test. They may reason away certain actions, justifying them with a twisted worldview. But what is our integrity worth? Is our integrity worth an hour’s pay if we lie on our timecard? Is our integrity worth the office supplies we slip into our pockets on the way home? Is our integrity worth the damage of spreading a bit of juicy gossip?

Possessing godly integrity is rare in today’s world because people are determined to live for themselves. They compromise their integrity because they are looking out for themselves instead of living for someone other than themselves. This outlook on life infiltrates behavior, which results in dishonest action.

As we look at the life of Paul, one thing is crystal clear: He lived for no one but God. Everything Paul did was for the glory of God. Paul was scorned by men. In fact, there was a period shortly after his conversion during which he was eyed cynically by everyone. The Christians did not trust him, and the Pharisees wanted to put him in prison. Yet over time, Paul proved he was not after fame and certainly not fortune.

Paul’s aim in life was to live for the glory of God. When that becomes our primary purpose in life, integrity will be a natural by-product. If we are living for and thinking about God first and foremost before we act, then what follows will be activity that intentionally honors Him. Integrity will not be contrived but overflowing.

Prayer: Lord, give me the right perspective on my life because living for You is far better than living for myself. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right” (Proverbs 16:13).