Keep Your Integrity! - WHAT IS INTEGRITY?

 When applied to us as servants of God, integrity means  wholehearted love for and unbreakable devotion to Jehovah as a Person, so that his will comes first in all our decisions.  Consider some background.  One basic meaning of hte Bible word for "integrity" is this:  complete, sound, or whole .  For example, the Israelites offered up animals in sacrifice to  Jehovah, and the Law said that the animals had to be sound.  (Leviticus  22:21, 22)  God's people were not allowed  to offer up an animal that was missing a leg, an ear, or an eyel nor could they off one full of disease.  It was important to  Jehovah that the animal be complete, sound, or whole.  (Matthew 1:6-9)  We can understand why Jehovah cares about soundness or completeness.  When we purchase something , whether a piece of fruit, a book, or a tool, we do not want one that has gaping holes or parts missing. We want one that  is complete, sound, or whole. Jehovah feels similarly when it comes to our love for him, our loyalty, it must be complete, sound, or whole.

Should we conclude that we must be perfect in order to have integrity?  After all, we may feel that we are less than sound, or even very flawed.  Consider two reasons why need not fear.  First, Jehovah does not focus on our flaws. He Word tells us:  "If errors were what you watch, O Jah, then who, O Jehovah could stand?"  (Psalm 130:3)  He knows that we are imperfect, sinful humans, and he forgives  us generously.  (Psalm 86:5) Second, Jehovah knows our limitations,and he does not expect more of us than we can do.  (Read Psalm  103:12-14.) In what sense, then, can we be complete, sound, or whole in his eyes? 

For servants of Jehovah, the key to integrity is lovee. Our love for God, our loyal devotion to him as our heavenly Father, must remain complete, sound, or whole. If our love remains like that even when we are tested, then we have integrity.  ( 1 Chronicles  28:9; Matthew 22:37) Consider again the three  Witnesses  we described at the outset. Why do they act as they do?  Does the young girl hate havign fun at school, or does the young man hope to be embarrassed at the door, or does the family man want to lose his job?  Of course not. Rather, they know that Jehovah has righteous standards, and their minds are focused on what pleases their heavenly Father. Their love for him moves them to put him first in the decisions they make. They thus put their integrity into action.

Next time: Keep Your Integrity - WHY WE NEED INTEGRITY

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