Integrity

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no-one is watching” – C.S. Lewis

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there.

(1 Chronicles 29:17)Have you ever done a test where at the end, the teacher has asked everyone to mark their own paper? What would you do if there was an answer you’d missed, but suddenly you remembered what it was? You’ve got the opportunity right there to change it. Nobody would know. It’s just one little question, and you really did know the answer, you’d just forgotten it… Those are thoughts we might have if we found ourselves in that situation. We might try to justify why it’s ok to do it ‘just this once’. But if we give in to that temptation, we’re proving that we’re potentially capable of giving in to bigger, more serious temptations. The effect on us in the long run matters. 

Each small sin gradually chips away at our integrity. Doing the right thing might have a cost attached to it, but the Bible says that God rejoices when he searches our hearts and finds integrity (1 Chronicles 29:17). 

So, let’s commit to walking in integrity, from this moment. If there’s a time in your past when you didn’t behave with total honesty, bring it before God and ask to move forward with him into a life that’s full of integrity.

Isaac Williams
Assistant Chaplain – Wyvern House