The virtue of honesty and integrity

                          


                              THE VIRTUE OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

                            An extract from "Each step serves a purpose" book

The quality of being honest and having strong moral values is exceedingly endorsed by God. Encounters of numerous kinds can place your uprightness at stake but God is content with a man who still maintains his integrity and avoids immoral. Bestowing to God, the upright are guarded by their integrity but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

The bible sole out a man measured by God as upright and virtuous, a man who fears God and shuns evil. Job still retained his integrity even though the devil incited God against him to ruin him without any reason. Job was a man hallowed by God, the lord had put a hedge around him and his household and all he had.

God blessed the work of his hand, his herds and flock spread throughout the land. Based on the dialogue between God and Satan regarding his honesty and veracity, Satan stretched his hand and struck everything he had. The enemy went further to exterminate his family and cause him to agonise excessive deal of agonising sores from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head. All this was an endeavour to cause him to curse God, to overthrow him from God's security and dedications. The devil used all the phases of his painful ailments as an indication that Job is being punished by God. Not only did Job receive compression from the pains of his loss and wounds, but his spouse and associates also formed part of the salt to his wounds by ruthlessly judging him over his circumstances.

When you suffer, many perceive different point of views on their own perspectives. Individuals can remark that your challenges are consequences of your transgressions, or as outcomes of your iniquities. But as a man of honesty and integrity, through his travails Job discerned that his liberator lives and not merely shall we receive good things lone from God.

Your authenticity, upright and honesty can be tested by incidences of any kind. God still anticipates you to remain frank and maintain your integrity. Job retained his integrity throughout his anguishes and the Lord upheld him and set him in his presence forever. Everything he lost was restored doubled up to him. God knew the purpose of his test; it was not to kill him nor to destroy him but to flourish and to reinforce him.

Under no circumstances should you allow your trials to provoke undesirable insolence within you. Don't permit the state of your affairs to rule you; no one is ordained for disappointment. But greatness is of moral excellence and good bearing. Honesty and integrity is a key to moral excellence.

Trustworthiness begins with you; you must be honest to yourself before you can extend your honest to other subjects. Although it may be hard to uphold integrity in your darkest period, through the sorrowfulness and pains. But the lord delights in showing mercy that triumph against all chances.

Truth be told; we live in a world full of influence where justice is overlooked. No one acknowledges their iniquities; people are rebellious and treacherous against each other and against the lord. They are "inciting revolt and oppression,

    Uttering lies, our hearts have conceived.

     So justice is driven back,

    And righteousness stands at a distance;

Truth has stumbled in the streets,

    Honesty cannot enter.

 Truth is nowhere to be found,

    And whoever shuns evil becomes a prey (Isaiah 59 verse 14).

We live in a generation full of ambitions and eagerness but driven by the futility of self-effort. Their faces are covered by the veil of ignorance, greed and desire becomes the source of their living. They find no pleasure in the virtue of trustworthiness and reliability. They live in the world of their own imagination where envy and jealousy is the only thing that matters. Darkness has taken over their hearts, they disguise in a form of godliness to master their scams. "Their lips have spoken falsely,

    And your tongue mutters wicked things.

 No one calls for justice;

    No one pleads a case with integrity.

They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies;

    They conceive trouble and give birth to evil" (Isaiah 59 verse 3).

Your honesty will testify for you in the near future, the one that is above is above all. According to the book of Jeremiah 17 verse 10, the LORD searches the heart and examines every secret motive, to reward each person according to their conduct, and according to what their deeds deserve.

 The lord will vindicate you according to your righteousness and according to your veracity. Integrity stands in opposition to hypocrisy. It is the inner sense of wholeness based on qualities such as honesty and the consistency of character. Diligence and a good sense of humor are products of honesty and integrity. Finally "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing well, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do well to all people," (Galatians 6 verse 9).

Bible verses on honesty and integrity

Righteousness guards the person of integrity,

    But wickedness overthrows the sinner (proverbs 13 verse 6)

The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity

    And seek to kill the upright….. (Proverbs 29 verse 10).

.......... “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth...... (Mathew 22 verse 16).

 In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, (Titus 2 verse 7).

………..And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity….. (Colossians 3 verse 14).

May integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope, Lord, is in you.  (Psalm 25 verse 21)