1 Kings 9:4 (KJV)
And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
After 24 years of Solomon’s reign, the construction of the temple and palace in Jerusalem was finally complete. At this point, God appeared to Solomon for the second time. The first time was at the beginning of his reign when God granted Solomon a unique appearance, and even better, the second appearance was unique. God had answered Solomon’s prayer with an excellent condition. If Solomon maintained obedience and faithfulness before God, he could expect blessings on his reign and the reign of his descendants. The dynasty of David would endure forever. God’s promise to Solomon repeated what He had promised his father, David. God wanted to show Solomon that He was faithful to the promises made to David. However, it was clear that God’s promise depended on obedience and devotion. God’s message to Solomon emphasizes the importance of obedience and integrity, particularly having an “integrity of heart,” which is more than just proper behavior. This is a matter of having a clean heart, as described in Psalm 51. David is an example of a leader with a heart that desires to please God despite his imperfections, and his confession and repentance after sinning demonstrated his commitment to God.
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. It is a doorway to destiny fulfillment and a secret of a successful life. Integrity is doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, regardless of the consequences and whether or not anyone is watching. As light is most appreciated in darkness, our integrity is most appreciated anywhere we find ourselves, especially where evil prevails. The concept of integrity is observable in both routine activities and exceptional circumstances. However, it’s most evident during critical moments. Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:10, “You are witnesses of how we lived among you believers. God is also a witness that we were holy and godly and without blame.” It is also written in Daniel 6:4, “Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.” Our lives are meant to count, but not without integrity. Therefore, know that our integrity speaks louder than our voice! As believers, we need to demonstrate integrity in all aspects of our endeavors, including our speech, time management, finance, relationships with the opposite sex, keeping promises, and paying vows because everything right begins and ends with God. Integrity, although costly, has great rewards.
Beloved, God’s perfection is unchanging, and He expects the same from us, His children. His unchanging standard remains sure. So, make up your mind to uphold integrity and live a life devoid of offense towards God and man. Be a person of integrity, for integrity opens the door for God’s blessing. Honor all the days of your life! No matter your claims, if you are not a man or woman of integrity, your Christianity is questionable. Think of your life today, whether in actual speech or the action of your daily life; as a Christian, people should know where you stand. No matter what the world may be doing, you and I must keep doing what is right. Finally, when you feel most tempted to indulge in self-destructive behavior, open the Bible, find inspiration in verses on integrity, and pray to God for His Guidance. Remember, the value of the trust others have in you goes beyond anything that can be measured because it has its rewards.
O Lord, thank You for Your Word. Give me a heart of integrity in Jesus’ Name.