Theme: INTEGRITY
Integrity is defined by the Advanced Oxford Learners Dictionary as: “The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles”. Some synonyms for integrity include: uprightness, trustworthiness, faithfulness, truthfulness, sincerity, etc. It can be seen that integrity incorporates the basic elements that make for good Christian character. One who claims to believe in Christ but lacks integrity can rightly be regarded as a nominal Christian. For this reason, it is of great necessity that all Christians should be persons of integrity as was the case with the ancient worthies, the apostles and the early Christians for which they were blessed abundantly and promised life in the world to come. David prayed: “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:6, 7, 10.
Text: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” – Matthew 5:13.
Comment: Integrity should be seen like a dress that all Christians need to wear every day because it facilitates the practice of holiness and the fear of God. The man or woman with integrity fears God and keeps His commandments with relative ease by God’s grace. God Almighty and Jesus Christ have delight in those who live in integrity. Concerning Job, God Almighty, addressing Satan, asked: “…Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil? and still he holdest fast his integrity….” (Job 2:3) In the same vein, Jesus Christ in the text called his disciples “the salt of the earth”, an expression which carries such connotations as honesty, trustworthiness, dependability and so on. That is the standard Christ expects from all his followers. That we live in this corrupting and defiling world is no excuse not to have integrity, but rather we should affect the world with righteousness, truthfulness, integrity, fear of God, etc. (Philippians 2:15) The man Lot was a good example to follow in this respect. Concerning him St. Peter wrote that God “delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” – 2 Peter 2:6-8.