Integrity is not selective
Genesis 39:5-10
5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD’S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field.
6 So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
7 It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge.
9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”
10 As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her.
People with integrity behave in a contrary fashion to most others. They are consistent, stable, and consistent. Their actions match their words. Many make excellent role models. When things need to be done, show up take initiative and responsibility and do what needs to be done.
5 Things People with Integrity Do Differently
(excerpted from https://www.powerofpositivity.com/)
1. They do what you say you will do.
Have you ever failed to come through for someone who you made a promise to? People with integrity inspire us because they are consistent with the fact that their word is their bond. They act differently by committing to keep promises that they have given.
2. They stand up for what is right.
They have an innate sense of right and wrong and seek to balance the scales of justice. When someone with power is abusing their power, people with integrity are there to defend the powerless. Abuse of power is an injustice. People with integrity see others being treated as “less than” and come to their defense.
3. They look in the mirror and commit to positive change.
Part of a healthy level of self-evaluation is looking at whether or not we hold ourselves accountable to the same standards that we hold others to. None of us is perfect. People with integrity acknowledge their flaws, they seek to improve themselves in the areas that need changing.
4. They take ownership for solving problems, even when the fault lies elsewhere.
People with integrity are different in that they assume the role of leader when no one else will. Maybe it wasn’t your fault that someone left trash in the hallway, but people with integrity see that there is a problem and take ownership of it anyway.
5. They act sooner rather than later.
People with integrity do not wait to act. They are the ones who jump first and come to the aid of others as often as possible.
Integrity is all about doing the right thing consistently. It is about being reliable, dependable, and unswerving. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles and uprightness. It is a personal choice to hold oneself to consistent moral and ethical standards.
Some would claim that they have integrity and transparency. But often those who make such claims, practice it only when it suits them. Real integrity is consistent, not selective.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not use the word “integrity.” But His teachings are replete the concept of integrity: purity of heart (Matthew 5:8), singleness of purpose (Matthew 6:22), and purity of motive (Matthew 6:1–6).
REFLECT & PRAY
Some character traits and virtues require that we be “all in.” Integrity is one such attribute. Wishful integrity is selective, genuine integrity is unswerving, not selective.
We cannot choose to have integrity whenever it is convenient or we simply want to.
Father I understand what real integrity is and I aspire to it. Encourage and enable me to be consistent.
INSIGHT
Proverbs 12:27 The precious possession of a man is diligence.
Joseph was a man of integrity. Joseph was intelligent, competent, and well-regarded. He consistently trusted the Father and made the best of his circumstances whether good or bad. His character and abilities brought him opportunities.
Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
But the very same qualities also brought temptation into his life.
Genesis 39:7 It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
Joseph’s integrity is evidenced in his response.
Genesis 39:8-9
8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household.
9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
Joseph’s consistent integrity is evidenced because Potiphar’s wife put pressure on him to sleep with her, day after day. He never wavered and he never broke down. His integrity was not selective.
Joseph demonstrated courage and determination living out his integrity. Because of his loyalty and devotion to the Father, he would not capitulate. He recognized that yielding would be a great sin against the Father.
Wishful integrity had matured into genuine integrity. His self-control became a steppingstone to future leadership and the fulfillment of the dreams of his youth.
The time you spend alone with the Father will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord (Charles Stanley).
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Dr H Reflections 