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Proverbs 11:3 - INTEGRITY.

Proverbs 11:3 (NKJV) The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

Proverbs 11:3 (NLT) Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

Proverbs 11:3 (AMP) The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the willful contrariness and crookedness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

WORD STUDY

Integrity. The Hebrew means "completeness," or "perfection," not in the sense of flawlessness, but in the sense that the development expected at any stage has been achieved. [SDA Bible Commentary]

INTRODUCTION

When someone has given their heart to the Savior, when their only aim in life is to please God, then they need have no fear they will be led astray. On the other hand, the persistent disobedience of the sinner keeps him off the only way to life, leaves him unsheltered from trouble, and leads him into eternal destruction. [SDA Bible Commentary]

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Integrity means being one and whole, not marked by duplicity. People of integrity are not one way in one setting and completely different in another. Are you a churchgoer on Sunday but ruthless in business during the week? Do you say conservative-sounding things to traditional people but liberal-sounding things to younger adults? Do you present yourself as one kind of person online but live as a very different kind of person in real life? We have the technology to brand ourselves, creating the image we want to project. We pad resumes, add facts to bios, falsify academic research, do whatever it takes to sell ourselves.
   But the wise and upright are driven by integrity, consistency of character. They don't have multiple selves, a real self, and a host of pseudoselves. They have one real self and it is not hidden. It is on display in every setting, in every role. With them, what you see is what you get.
   Have you seen this behavior in yourself in any area - that you speak and act one way in one setting or with one crowd but very differently in another? Where do you lack integrity?
   Lord, I confess that I sometimes "play to the crowd." But you always see me; you are always there. You have the only set of eyes and opinion I should care about. Let me always live consciously before your face. That will heal my lack of integrity. Amen. [God's Wisdom for Navigating Life by Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller]

COMMENTARY

Peaceful Fruit of Integrity
   The grace of God is ready to empower you to turn enemies into friends. How is this possible? When you walk in the light of God's love, choosing integrity, mercy, kindness, and justice in your decisions and interactions, even those who do not agree with you will have nothing they can truly fault you for. Don't get caught up in people pleasing, but set your heart on what honors God, and do those things.
   Instead of seeking to appease others, focus on pleasing God. Get to know him more, reading his Word and fellowshipping with his Spirit. Spend time in his presence, consider his nature, and align your heart with his values. Allow his wisdom to guide you, even when it feels as if it goes against your logic. His understanding is faultless, and he will not lead you astray.
   Be true to who God has called you to be, and be kind to others even when they are unkind toward you. [365 Days of Courage by Sara Perry of Broadstreet Pub re Proverbs 16:7]

You Can Count on People of Integrity
   The Bible says people who don't follow through on their commitments are like clouds that never produce the benefit of rain. If you're a person of integrity, you keep your word. When you say you'll do something, you do it.
   You may have every intention of keeping your promises when you make them. But if you don't follow through, it leads to negative consequences - some that you may not even be aware of.
   For instance, when you break a promise to your spouse or your children, bitterness may seep into the relationship like a poison. Your friends and family can't trust you if you continually break your promises to them.
   You may say circumstances have changed. And maybe they have. But having integrity means you keep your promises even if they no longer benefit you, even if they hurt you, or even if they cost more than you anticipated.
   The Bible says in Proverbs 10:9 that when you keep your promises, you'll walk securely. In other words, reliability leads to stability. When people can take you at your word, your dependability produces tremendous confidence in their lives and in yours.
   It may be tough to keep all of your promises, but when you do, God will honor your commitment. Psalm 15:4 says that God blesses people who "keep their promises ... even when it hurts" (NCV). [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/ re Proverbs 25:14]

ILLUSTRATION

Most Embarrassing Moment
   Riley wished she could slither under the stands and disappear. Seconds before she was holding her favorite grape-flavored slushie and cheering on her school's football team. Now slushie covered her head ... and several of her friends.
   "What were you thinking?" Mia yelled. "I'm covered in purple goo."
   "This is never coming out of my shirt," Natalie added. "My mom's going to be sooo mad."
   "I'm sorry," Riley whimpered, almost too embarrassed to speak. "When that bee flew at my hair, I just jerked my hands up. I totally forgot I was holding a slushie."
   "Well, with all that sugar in your hair," Mia said, "bees are going to love you now.'
   Have you ever had something totally embarrassing happen to you? Maybe you spilled your drink at lunch, ran the wrong way on the soccer field, or forgot your lines during a play. Those are the momenta you'd love to forget. You probably wouldn't want to write them down to be remembered for thousands of years, right?
   Well, the Gospels include plenty of stories that make the disciples look bad.
   When people tell a story, they'll often leave out embarrassing details or things that are hard to explain. Experts call this the "cover-up test." If a story sounds too good to be true, something must be missing. But nothing's missing from the Gospels.
   Just look at Mark. The disciple Peter is recognized as the source - and he looks terrible. Mark, actually all the Gospel writers, details how Peter denied Christ three times on the night of his arrest. (Talk about an embarrassing moment.) Matthew shows Peter nearly drowning when he takes his eyes off Jesus as he walks on water. Numerous places the disciples fight among each other and fail to understand Jesus' teachings.
   "Here's the point," explains Craig Blomberg, one of the foremost experts on the Gospels. "If they didn't feel free to leave out stuff when it would have been convenient and helpful to do so, is it really plausible to believe that they outright added and fabricated material with no historical basis? I'd say not."
   The Gospel writers were men of great integrity. Their integrity guided them, along with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as they recorded the events of Jesus' life. The Gospels reflect their honesty in telling the whole story, even when it made them look bad. That's why you can trust the Gospels and why they've stood the test of time. [Case For Christ For Kids by Les Strobel]

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Proverbs 13:6 (KJV) Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Devotional pending.

Titus 2:7 - Leading The Way.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230126-0848.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/