Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than he who willfully goes in double and wrong ways, though he is rich. Proverbs 28:6 (AMPC)
If the label on a container says fit for consumption and yet the contents inside are unfit, harmful or even destructive that’s murderous, that’s wickedness. This is how dishonesty or a lack of integrity can be described. The Scripture has called it willfully going in double and wrong ways.
Integrity means what’s on the surface is what’s underneath. It means what’s upfront is what’s behind. It means being one with your word. What you say is who you’re and is what you do. God is one with His Word. John 1:1 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
What God says is who He is and is what He does.
He is love, He speaks or communicates love and He loves or demonstrates love, He gives love. He’s a God of integrity or uprightness. Therefore He can be depended on.
You cannot be trusted or relied on if you’re dishonest in what you say and do.
Sometimes we may not be intentionally dishonest but it’s that we failed to deliver on what we promised for a number of reasons.
To avoid this, know who you are. Know your strengths – what you’re able and willing to do. Also know what you are not able and willing to do. It is better to say no and displease some people than to say yes and then default and create distrust.
Integrity is trustworthiness. We can live and walk in integrity or trustworthiness when we have a relationship with, look to, and depend on the Lord who is always ever trustworthy. Deuteronomy 32:4 (MSG) The Rock: His works are perfect, and the way he works is fair and just; A God you can depend upon, no exceptions, a straight-arrow God.
When we daily fellowship with God who is one with His Word, says who He is, does what He says we will act the same way.