A Rare Virtue
A few years ago our son had a business partner with an interesting background.
After graduating from the Navel Academy, he served a stint in the Navy. He then worked in a variety in business experiences including being an advisor to the governor of California.
During one of the conversations that I had with him he told me that of all of the people that he had ever know in his life he had only know 5 “Men of Integrity.” When you think of all of the IMPORTANT PEOPLE that he had crossed paths with during his lifetime that is a very sad declaration.
As I was relaying that conversation to my daughter-in-law, her reaction was, “How sad that he had never met many Christians.”
My immediate reaction was, “What is even sadder is that he had probably met many Christians and he could still make that statement.”
The word INTEGRITY is a word that is used only rarely these days.
Integrity is a word that comes from the verb meaning to integrate, which means to incorporate something into a larger unit so as to make the larger unit complete.
The definition of a person of integrity can be defined so a third grader can understand it is a person with an undivided heart.
Most people are quick to tell you that their hearts are compartmentalized even though they don’t know it. One part of their hearts is reserved for their faith, if they have any. They will be very quick to inform you that, “Their faith is a very private thing.” When you hear that statement you will know that their faith, what little there is of it, does not have any effect or influence on other aspects of their lives or other compartments of their hearts.
Let’s look at some other compartments in their hearts. One compartment is reserved for work or career. One compartment contains their marriage. Another compartment harbors their political bent or conviction. Another compartment is reserved for their leisure activities, and the list of sub-compartments goes on and on.
The key to understanding most people is that the convictions or passions of one compartment of their hearts have little or no influence over the convictions of the others.
How else could a person carry on a sexual relationship with someone who is not their spouse? Or for that matter, how could a person attend church on Sunday, listens to God’s Word and laws proclaimed, and then on Monday go to an abortion clinic to have an abortion and then on Tuesday go to the voting booth and vote for a candidate who not only advocates abortions but passes laws legalizing such murder. How else could a person use perfect English on Sunday and then for the rest of the week use profanity that would embarrass an Army drill Sergeant?
I think that you are getting the picture now. The Bible calls this kind of person a double minded person.
James 1:8 tells us that, “a double minded person is unstable in all of his ways.”
In Psalms 119:163 God says that He, “Hates and abhors lying.”
Have you noticed that lying has become very fashionable these days? People are becoming very competent at it; politicians are some of the most accomplished liars. When one practices something long enough, they become very good at it. Lying always covers up an inconvenience.
People of integrity have no compartments in their hearts. Every aspect of their lives is integrated into one complete heart and are influenced by all the others. God has placed a conscience in every man’s heart for this very reason.
Jesus was confronted by some of the church leaders who asked Him which of the commandments was the most important. His answer was, “You are to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and with ALL your soul, and ALL your mind.” Mark 12:30
In the book of Revelation, Chapter 21, God tells us who will NOT be partakers with God in eternity. These are people who are not people of integrity. Among the list are “All Liars.”
We need to repent of our double-mindedness, purify our hearts of all its compartments, and turn our lives completely over to our creator who is the Lord Jesus.
After graduating from the Navel Academy, he served a stint in the Navy. He then worked in a variety in business experiences including being an advisor to the governor of California.
During one of the conversations that I had with him he told me that of all of the people that he had ever know in his life he had only know 5 “Men of Integrity.” When you think of all of the IMPORTANT PEOPLE that he had crossed paths with during his lifetime that is a very sad declaration.
As I was relaying that conversation to my daughter-in-law, her reaction was, “How sad that he had never met many Christians.”
My immediate reaction was, “What is even sadder is that he had probably met many Christians and he could still make that statement.”
The word INTEGRITY is a word that is used only rarely these days.
Integrity is a word that comes from the verb meaning to integrate, which means to incorporate something into a larger unit so as to make the larger unit complete.
The definition of a person of integrity can be defined so a third grader can understand it is a person with an undivided heart.
Most people are quick to tell you that their hearts are compartmentalized even though they don’t know it. One part of their hearts is reserved for their faith, if they have any. They will be very quick to inform you that, “Their faith is a very private thing.” When you hear that statement you will know that their faith, what little there is of it, does not have any effect or influence on other aspects of their lives or other compartments of their hearts.
Let’s look at some other compartments in their hearts. One compartment is reserved for work or career. One compartment contains their marriage. Another compartment harbors their political bent or conviction. Another compartment is reserved for their leisure activities, and the list of sub-compartments goes on and on.
The key to understanding most people is that the convictions or passions of one compartment of their hearts have little or no influence over the convictions of the others.
How else could a person carry on a sexual relationship with someone who is not their spouse? Or for that matter, how could a person attend church on Sunday, listens to God’s Word and laws proclaimed, and then on Monday go to an abortion clinic to have an abortion and then on Tuesday go to the voting booth and vote for a candidate who not only advocates abortions but passes laws legalizing such murder. How else could a person use perfect English on Sunday and then for the rest of the week use profanity that would embarrass an Army drill Sergeant?
I think that you are getting the picture now. The Bible calls this kind of person a double minded person.
James 1:8 tells us that, “a double minded person is unstable in all of his ways.”
In Psalms 119:163 God says that He, “Hates and abhors lying.”
Have you noticed that lying has become very fashionable these days? People are becoming very competent at it; politicians are some of the most accomplished liars. When one practices something long enough, they become very good at it. Lying always covers up an inconvenience.
People of integrity have no compartments in their hearts. Every aspect of their lives is integrated into one complete heart and are influenced by all the others. God has placed a conscience in every man’s heart for this very reason.
Jesus was confronted by some of the church leaders who asked Him which of the commandments was the most important. His answer was, “You are to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and with ALL your soul, and ALL your mind.” Mark 12:30
In the book of Revelation, Chapter 21, God tells us who will NOT be partakers with God in eternity. These are people who are not people of integrity. Among the list are “All Liars.”
We need to repent of our double-mindedness, purify our hearts of all its compartments, and turn our lives completely over to our creator who is the Lord Jesus.
posted by Jim Burton at 12:22 PM
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