integrity

Proverbs 31

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The Beauty of Character.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” – Proverbs 31:30 NLT

In a society obsessed with outer beauty, it pays to be reminded that God looks at the heart. He is not impressed with externals. He does not measure our value based on our good looks or how impressive we may appear. God is all about inner character. He sees what others too often fail to see and what most of us even fail to look for. In this famous Proverb, King Lemuel describes a most impressive woman. She is industrious, a successful businesswoman, a loving mother, a highly disciplined worker, a caring friend, and a dedicated wife. In fact, this woman is almost too good to be true. But I don’t think the point of this Proverb is to hold up this unnamed woman as a model for all women to follow. I think the point is to remind us that it is our character that counts. It is what’s inside that gives us our value. This woman’s industry and hard work are laudable, but they are not the point. Hard work can simply become another form of idol worship, leading to workaholism and self-sufficiency. While King Lemuel describes this woman as dressing in fine linen and purple gowns, he says, “She is clothed with dignity and strength” (Proverbs 31:25 NLT). Her inner character was outwardly visible in the manner in which she lived her life. She worked hard out of love for her family, not out of love for self. She was industrious because she cared for others more than she cared for herself. This woman feared God. She had a reverence for God that drove her actions and determined her attitude about everything. Verse 10 describes her as “virtuous.” That word really has to do with inner strength. She was trustworthy, good, hard-working, discerning, compassionate, giving, humble, wise, kind, loving, and worthy of praise from both her children and her husband. Why? Because she had inner beauty that was far more than skin deep. It was the byproduct of time spent with God. If some of us, both men and women, spent more time in the Word and less time in the gym or in front of the mirror, we would exhibit more of the character qualities this woman possessed. If we cared more about the condition of our souls than we did about our bodies, we would be far more attractive to the world around us. “Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman [or man] who lives in the Fear-of-GOD” (Proverbs 31:30 MSG).

Father, we obsess over the outside. We spend far too much time worrying about how we appear when we should be thinking about who we really are on the inside. Renew our perspective. Give us a greater desire to be transformed from the inside out. Help us to fear You more and desire what is important to You. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Proverbs 19

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The Simple Life Of Integrity.

“Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.” – Proverbs 19:1 NLT

What does a person of integrity look like? In our modern culture, we have diluted integrity down into the one-dimensional idea of honesty. If you tell the truth or keep your word, you’re referred to as a man of integrity. But the biblical view of integrity is so much deeper, fuller and all-inclusive. And the Proverbs help us see what the life of a person of integrity looks like. Using comparisons and contrasts, it paints simple word pictures of what the person of integrity does and doesn’t do. The biblical concept of integrity is wholeness. It carries the idea of soundness and completeness and illustrates a life that is non-compartmentalized. It is a life lived entirely for God with no parts held back. It is giving God of my life, not just the convenient parts, and it is allowing God to transform every area of my life, including my speech, attitudes, and actions. Solomon tells us over and over again that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. God is the source of all we need to live a godly, whole and complete life. The person who refuses to acknowledge this reality is designated as a fool in the Proverbs, and a fool is simply one who actively spurns the ways and overtures of God. The fool says there is no God or lives his life as if there were no God in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. And the fool is one who hears God’s call but refuses to listen. As a result his or her life is incomplete, lacking in wholeness, and spiritually unhealthy.

Integrity is righteousness lived out. It is visible to the eye. It is when the wisdom, knowledge and understanding we receive from God begins to influence our behavior and speech so that others can see it and be influenced by it. Integrity makes us willing to do the right thing and suffer loss rather than lie in order to get ahead (Proverbs 19:1). Without integrity, we tend to rush headlong into decisions, letting our enthusiasm drive our choices rather than wisdom (Proverbs 19:2). People of integrity still make mistakes, but when they do they refuse to blame God for the consequences (Proverbs 19:3). They don’t practice “fake” friendships, pursuing relationships purely for what they can get out of them (Proverbs 19:4, 6, 7). Instead, they view others through God’s eyes, loving the helpless and hopeless the same way He does (Proverbs 19:17). The integral life is marked by honesty and truth-telling at all times and at any cost (Proverbs 19:5, 9). The life of integrity is the only acceptable form of self-love because it ends up rewarding those who practice it with great benefits (Proverbs 19:8). A person of integrity lives their entire life for God, so they are less likely to get angry when offended or when things don’t go their way. They have a greater capacity to overlook a wrong committed because they understand the fallen nature of man. This God-given patience provides them with respect and protects them from harm (Proverbs 19:11, 12, 19). Integrity understands that ultimately God is in control, and His will will be done (Proverbs 19:14, 21). The integral life is marked by obedience to God, hard work, the constant pursuit of wisdom, and a fear of the Lord (Proverbs 19:15, 16, 20, 23, 24). Integrity encourages parents to create an atmosphere in their home where instruction is God-centered, and discipline is practiced in order to raise children who are God-fearing (Proverbs 19:18, 25, 26, 27, 29.

In the very first chapter of this book, Solomon gives us the reason he is writing them down. “Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just and fair” (Proverbs 1:2-3 NLT). But then he adds, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” (Proverbs 19:7 NLT). It all starts with God. We must understand that only He can provide us the wisdom, insight, understanding, and discipline we need to live lives of integrity. We can’t manufacture these things on our own. But when we put Him first and allow Him to change us from the inside-out, others will see the change in our lives – in every area of our lives. Our integrity will be visible all those around us.

Father, make us a people of integrity. Change us completely, wholly and make us holy. May our lives reflect that we belong to you and that You are transforming every area of our lives. Let the world see our holiness through our actions and speech. Amen.

Ken Miller

Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Proverbs 11

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No Comparison.

“The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.” – Proverbs 11:5 BBE

Like many of the Proverbs, this one is a lesson in contrasts or comparisons. Pride versus humility. Honesty versus dishonesty. Wickedness versus godliness. The fool versus the sensible person. Lovers of money versus lovers of God. The entire Proverb is a series of couplets contrasting one way of life with another. And any conclusion reached from this exercise is intended to be a no-brainer. The life of godliness or righteousness is meant to be the obvious winner, and verse 5 sums it up well. “The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall” (Proverbs 11:5 BBE). As New Testament believers, we know that our righteousness is a gift provided to us by God through the death of His Son Jesus Christ. We have been made righteous because of His death on the cross where He took on our sin and, in exchange, we received His righteousness. And it is that righteousness that allows us to live a life that pleases God. This Proverb is not about human effort and our ability to keep a set of rules or standards. It portrays the life of the individual who has made God their highest priority and are willing to allow Him to transform them from the inside-out. The result is a life marked by honesty, integrity, knowledge, joy, wisdom, trustworthiness, generosity, discretion, and the love of God.

To be godly is to be God-dependent. It is an awareness that our righteousness comes from Him, not ourselves. It is an understanding that, left to ourselves, we are nothing more than fools, prideful, arrogant, lovers of money, cruel, ruthless, stingy, lacking in discretion, and incapable of changing our behavior or our hearts. This is not just a list of lifestyle choices. It is a description of two ways of life. One is our natural tendency as fallen human beings. The other is the life of the individual who has discovered God and fallen in love with His grace, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, and holiness. Righteousness is not a goal we strive towards. It is a gift made available to us through a relationship with God. Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, we can have a right relationship with God, and the fruit of that is a life of righteousness. God changes our heart and, as a result, our behavior. Our godly lives are proof of our relationship with God Himself. Wisdom, generosity, discretion, honesty and integrity are not the result of our own effort, but the fruit of a loving relationship with God. God Himself shows us the kind of life that honors Him, then gives us the capacity to live it through the power of His Spirit. He produces in us what we could never pull of on our own. So why would we ever choose any other way to live our lives? There’s no comparison.

Father, Your way is best. The life of righteousness is the only way that makes sense. Godliness is a no-brainer. But yet we choose the other way each and every day. We allow our flesh or sin nature to take over and lead us down a path that is nothing more than a dead-end. Thank You for this reminder that there is no comparison between the life You make available to us and the one the world offers up as an alternative. Your way is the best way. The only way. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Psalm 101 – Day 2

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I Will…
(Based on Psalm 101)

I will sing about Your mercy and just judgment, O God,
I will praise You in song.
I will be careful to live my whole life in a wise and understanding way,
When will You come to rescue me?
In the meantime, I will live my life with integrity even when I am home alone.
I won’t allow anything dishonest or questionable into my life,
I will despise the things done by those who oppose You,
Their actions will not become a part of my life.
I will not tolerate perversity in my heart,
I will not be known for having a wicked heart.
I will not have anything to do with those who slander others,
I will not put up with the haughty and arrogant.
Instead, I will make believers the focus of my attention.
I will spend my time with those whose lives model integrity,
They will minister beside me and to me.
But I won’t have anything to do with those who can’t be trusted,
Whose words and lives fail to model integrity.
I will make it my mission in life to remove all evil influence from my life,
No one who loves wickedness will not be tolerated in my world.

Psalm 101 – Day 1

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I Will…

“I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.” – Psalm 101:2 NLT

What will you do for God? For most of us, we have a long list of things we would like God to do for us. We have prayer requests we would like Him to answer. We have problems we would like Him to solve. We have people in our lives we would like Him to change. Conflicts we would like Him to resolve, illnesses we would like Him to heal, mysteries we would like Him to reveal, cloudy futures we would like Him to clear up. But what are we willing to do for Him? Over and over again in this short Psalm, David says, “I will…” David is expressing to God his willingness to praise Him, pursue a life of integrity, refuse to look at anything inappropriate, reject relationships with the wicked, not tolerate conceit and pride in his life, search out the faithful as his companions, and hire those whose lives are above reproach as his employees. What David was telling God was that he was serious about living a life that was set apart for God’s use. He understood the concept of holiness. David knew that, as God’s chosen servant, his life was to be distinctive and different. It was to be characterized by a different way of life. David was not doing these things in an attempt to please God or win brownie points with Him, but because they are characteristic of someone who shares God’s heart. Back in Psalm 86, David had prayed, “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Great me purity of heart, that I may honor you” (Psalm 86:11 NLT). In Psalm 101, David is describing what he has learned about God’s way – His path for living life. It is a life characterized by integrity or wholeness. It is “sound” or “healthy” in all areas, not just in parts. There is no compartmentalization or hidden areas where God has no sway or influence. David says, “I will be careful to live a blameless life” He is not promising to live a perfect life, but a whole one. He is saying that he is going to do everything he can to live a life that will bring glory to God in every detail. David goes on to tell God, “I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.” That word translated “integrity” shares the same root word as the one translated “blameless” earlier in the verse. Again, it has to do with wholeness and completeness. David is expressing his desire to live a holy, set-apart life in every area of his life – even at home, where no one else can see him.

There is a sense in which we will have to make difficult decisions if we want to live according to God’s way. Like David, we will have to “refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar” (Psalm 101:3 NLT). Think about that the next time you turn on the TV or head to the movie theater. We will have to “hate all who deal crookedly” and “have nothing to do with them” (Psalm 101:3 NLT). David is not telling us to hate the lost, but to refuse to enjoy the companionship of those whose lives dishonor God. Do you enjoy the company of those who have no heart for the things of God more than you enjoy the company of believers? This is speaking more about having a love affair with their behavior than with the individuals themselves. Are the lifestyles of the godless more appealing to us than the lifestyles of the godly? David said, “I will search for faithful people to be my companions” (Psalm 101:6 NLT). He wanted to hang with the holy, not the heathen.

David wanted his life to be different, so he was willing to make changes to the way he lived. He sought new habits and new friends. He chose to give up old ways of doing things. He chose to surround himself with good influences. What are you willing to do for God? What steps are you willing to take to ensure that your life is marked by integrity or wholeness?

Father, You want all of my life, not just the parts that people see on Sunday morning. You desire that I would be willing to make changes to the way that I live. You have given me a new heart and the power to live differently, but I still have to choose to do so. And it begins with the daily decisions to live my whole life for You. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org