According to the dictionary integrity is defined as: “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.”1 As I was reading yesterday’s (March 26) Our Daily Bread devotional the following portion gives us a wonderful example of integrity:
“Abel Mutai, a Kenyan runner competing in a grueling international cross-country race, was mere yards from victory—his lead secure. Confused by the course’s signage and thinking he’d already crossed the finish line, however, Mutai stopped short. The Spanish runner in second place, Ivan Fernandez Anaya, saw Mutai’s mistake. Rather than take advantage and bolt past for the win, however, he caught up to Mutai, put out his arm and guided Mutai forward to a gold-medal win. When reporters asked Anaya why he purposefully lost the race, he insisted that Mutai deserved the win, not him. ‘What would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor of that medal? What would my mom think of that?’ As one report put it: ‘Anaya chose honesty over victory.’”2
As Christians one way we stand out from the crowd is to model this quality of integrity. While the world may attack us for being narrowminded and old-fashioned one thing they will admire us for is our honesty and integrity. Our values may be different than those of the majority but our passion in standing for what we believe in and our consistency in treating our fellowman with love and compassion will earn the respect of our peers.
Sometimes the only Bible the unsaved will ever read is the lives of the Christians they interact with. When we demonstrate a high level of integrity in everything we do, people will take notice, and more often than not they will wish they could manifest this same quality in their lives. As Christians our testimony of how we live our lives often, if consistent, will lead others to ask us how we manage to lead such exemplary lives. When this happens, we can share the gospel message of Jesus, and His transformational power.
My friends, manifesting a lifestyle of integrity is not only the right way to live, but it is a wonderfully attractive quality that the unsaved will ask us how they can live such a life of honesty and high moral character. In addition, when we live a life of integrity we glorify God. Let’s all ask God to help us to strive to not worry about political correctness but moral correctness! I guarantee you will sleep much better at night.
Good post, my friend, and an excellent reminder to continue to be light and salt to the world.
This post is encouraging Curt!
A great reminder that integrity is essential to the life of the Christian.