Integrity- BE THE EXAMPLE- Monday
Integrity
by
Rocky Fleming
Monday - Be the Example
"In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." (Titus 2:7-8 NIV)
If you think it is a tall order to do what is good in everything, you are right. How can we pull that off? "It is beyond me," we all think and we immediately look around for the other person to fill the bill. But the problem is, dear friend, we are that other person. As a disciple of Christ, we are being given this exhortation to live out our faith by the way we treat other people and deal with life, even those people and things we find disgusting. Now this is where the requirement with being a disciple of Christ causes many a pretender to ring the bell and walk away, for it is just too hard to be perfect. Well, if you think being perfect is required of a disciple of Christ, think again. A disciple of Christ is a flawed, scarred, real, forgiven, in love with Jesus, and as a result, a dangerous man. He is not perfect. But he is good. This guy is giving it his best to be good all the time, and that part is hard. He is challenged by everything every other man is challenged with. But he knows that the battle he wages is for Christ's glory rather than his own and that gives him a motivation that is greater than self. But he does not see himself as good. He likely sees himself as "flawed - scarred - forgiven - in need of God's grace." Good? No, he's too much of a warrior to see himself as good, so we need to ask him another question. "Do you live with personal integrity?" Now this is something he can evaluate, for he thinks of his speech, his dealings with people, the way he processes being a resource for people, and the climate with the way he lives his life. He can't remember the last time he told a lie or willingly misled anyone in anyway. His conscience either denies it or confirms the question. We ask him again, "Are you a man of integrity?" He doesn't stammer. He doesn't give a lame "I try to be." No, this man gives a concise answer. There is no pride in his answer. Just fact. "I AM!" He says. "I am a man of integrity."
Being good is a relative term. For example, we can be good as a salesman, a teacher, or a football coach. Being good in those examples is measureable by success generally in numbers such as wins, loses, sales, etc. We can be good in those things but not be a good man because of a lack of integrity. But to be a coach or salesman or teacher with integrity is something else. The fact is it might be our integrity that keeps us from being good under those other measurements, for a man of integrity will not compromise his integrity for success. The Apostle Paul, the writer of Titus, would likely have been saying. "Do your best in everything you do. But above all guard your integrity, for that is the most important example of good."
Paul was no doubt the greatest proponent of grace in all of the New Testament writings. Do you think he was talking about perfection in his exhortation? No, he was talking about the price of being a disciple of Christ. Not perfect, but good. We are good because our integrity confirms it.
This week I want to use the passage above as a launching pad to dive into what it means to be a successful businessman, pastor, teacher, line worker, factory worker, policeman, and on and on, and still keep our integrity intact. I believe there is room for both. I am not saying that in all circumstances and situations our integrity will overcome the challenges we are working with or working under. But I am saying that our integrity is a delight to our King, and it sets us up for receiving great blessings from Him, even in our current situation. However, there might be a case going on with you right now that God is taking you away from where you are and what you are doing because your integrity is being challenged with compromise. Leaving where you are may appear to be a desperate and bad thing for you. But don't trust appearances and do not forget that when the King is delighted in you there is no better Friend to have on your side. This week let's challenge those fears, for the stepping stone you may be getting ready to step on could be the one that leads to the desires of your heart. Got your attention? Let's discuss this tomorrow.