Understanding Integrity
When I was in fourth grade, I won a “character counts” award, which was given to one boy and one girl from each grade at the end of every month to acknowledge their good behavior. The principal chose a characteristic each month, and the teachers selected students who excelled in that characteristic. The characteristic I won an award for was integrity. At nine years old, I barely understood what integrity meant or why it was important. But as it turns out, God’s Word has a great deal to say about integrity and why we need it as followers of Jesus.
Merriam-Webster defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral values.” Synonyms for integrity are honesty, uprightness, and honor. In Daniel 6, Daniel demonstrates extreme integrity to honor the Lord. Daniel refuses to worship King Darius as the pagan gods’ representative. Instead, he chooses to pray to the Lord as the one and only God. Daniel wins favor with the King, and the other officials become jealous of Daniel. They make an ordinance that whoever honors another god instead of the king should be thrown into a den of lions. Daniel hears about the plan, goes to his room, and gets on his knees to pray and worship God.
Although Daniel’s life was on the line, he still chose to worship God. Daniel didn’t compromise his faith to save himself. Instead, he trusted that God would save him. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I would’ve trusted God to save me from a den of lions. I am prone to fear the things of the world and lack trust in God all the time.
Integrity Over Compromise
In this season, it’s been hard for me to trust God with the outcomes of situations out of my control. My heart has been prone to wander from God and instead dwell on what might happen. It’s easy to believe that if I remain in control, and things go the way I think they should go, the best outcome will happen. Yet God continues to convict my heart and remind me that His way is better than my way.
How has it been hard for you to trust and honor God lately? Have you compromised your faith in God’s in order to protect yourself or others? What would it take for you to believe in Him again?
Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?” This verse has steadied me in times where it’s hard to trust God’s character. But the truth is, the same God that rescued Daniel from the lion’s den is the same God we still serve today. That doesn’t mean we won’t face hardship or suffering. In fact, God tells us we will face hardship and suffering (James 1:2-4). But he is with us in those hard times. We can remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness in the past and choose to worship him despite our fears of the unknown.
Integrity Rooted in Trust
I am learning it’s a beautiful thing to sit in the tension of knowing God’s character while also being honest with Him about the lack of trust in my heart. God hears our honest prayers and remains with us as we navigate our doubts, confusions, and fears. In fact, our honesty sets us apart from the world.
Daniel’s heart to turn to the Lord in praise and worship after receiving frightening news encourages me to do the same. God protects Daniel and honors his integrity. God’s will prevails against the plans of men. Nothing escapes His sovereign purposes. Choose to honor the Lord today instead of fearing the world.
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21 ESV
