What it means to live a life of integrity

　　Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. -Proverbs 12:19

　　A man went fishing one day without catching a single fish. So, he packed up his gear, went to the market, and picked out three fat fish to take home to his family. As the store manager was about to wrap up the purchase, the man asked him, “Before you wrap them, could you toss them to me, one by one? That way, I can truthfully tell my wife I caught them!”

　　When it comes to telling the truth, many people like to scoot by on technicalities, half-truths, and word games in order to hide the real facts. They value their reputation over their integrity and do whatever it takes to make sure people think highly of them.

　　But when we look at the Scriptures, we find that way of thinking is a recipe for disaster. Take King Saul, for example, who directly disobeyed God’s orders in1 Samuel 15. When he was confronted about it, he continued down his path of lies for no other reason than to preserve his reputation while slowly destroying his integrity.

　　The old adage is true: Honesty is the best policy. When you live a life of truth, you’ll not only please the Lord; you’ll keep a clear conscience. So be truthful in all you do and maintain a life of honesty and integrity.

　　Prayer Challenge

　　Ask God to help you be truthful in all your dealings with others and to value your integrity over your reputation.

　　Questions for Thought

　　Why do you think many people place more value on their reputations than they do their integrity?

　　In what areas of your life have you perhaps let your integrity slip? What can you do to build it back up?

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