God commanded us to live in integrity because integrity affects every area of our lives, even our society. It affects our relationship with God and the people around us. Integrity builds trust between us and others. Imagine if integrity doesn't exist in our lives. For example, if there is no integrity in the family, the family will break apart because there is no trust. Everybody needs people that they can trust. We want to surround ourselves with people who are honest with us. According to Walmart, they lost $6.5 billion to theft, including from their employees, in 2023. Walmart retail stores lost money because they had employees stealing merchandise or money from the company. People without integrity will cheat, lie, and destroy what is good. Many families have been broken because of divorce, and the number one reason for divorce is the lack of integrity. Many students in middle school and high school are passing their grades because of cheating. As a result, when they enter college, they are behind in math, reading, and other subjects. In businesses, many people have lost money due to the lack of integrity in business dealings.
God wants us to show others what it means to be His children while we're living here on earth. He wants us to shine His righteousness in our family, workplace, school, and other places. When we walk in integrity, we build trust in our families and the people around us. Proverbs 11:5 says, "The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin." We need to be the people who walk with honesty because when we walk with honesty, God blesses our lives. According to business reviews, top companies in the world are always looking for employees who walk with integrity because those who walk with integrity keep high-value customers, reduce employee turnover, improve productivity, and make smart decisions. If we want to be promoted, we need to show the company that we work for that we can be trusted. If we want to have a healthy family, we need to promote integrity in our homes. If we want to be a good student, we must walk with integrity. If we want to know God on a deeper level and grow in our relationship with Him, we must walk with integrity.
When we live with integrity, it influences every part of our lives and even the world around us. Let us set aside dishonesty because it only destroys what is good in us. When we live with integrity, we bless our families, those around us, and most importantly, our God.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What happens when I walk with integrity? What are the practical ways that I can walk with integrity at my home, workplace, school, or other places that I am at? Why does God want me to walk with integrity?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for teaching me the importance of integrity. Please help me be honest in everything I do, even when no one else can see me. Please empower me to walk with integrity so that I may bless my family, the people around me, and, most importantly, you. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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