integrity – Inner Beauty Bible Study

WISE OR FOOL CH 7: WISE PEOPLE ARE FULL OF INTEGRITY

I always tried to be the good girl growing up. I desired above all else to please my parents. I did this mainly through getting good grades. I saw how it brought a smile to the faces of my parents when I excelled in school. School also served as a safe haven as a child growing up in a turbulent household. However, integrity was a foreign word as I grew up in my teen years mad at God and shutting Him out of my life. When I returned to God in my twenties, God taught me that He desired integrity above my excelling in school. Schoolwork brought me outward praise but integrity would bring me approval by God. I thanked God for teaching me the importance of integrity.

MEMORY VERSE

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Integrity…

Integrity is “the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “firm adherence to a code of moral…values” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

HIDDEN GEMS

Integrity is a trait sorely lacking in today’s world. People of this world will do anything to get ahead. This can include lying and cheating. However, as believers, we can choose to live a life of integrity. This will lead to blessings in our lives.

“Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered” (Psalm 26:1, NIV).

Read Psalm 26:1. What does David request of the Lord?

What has David led?

What two traits does David describe himself?

We all desire to live a blameless life. God will help us to live a life of integrity. We can trust in the Lord to guide us along the straight and narrow path.

“Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever” (Psalm 41:12, NIV).

Read Psalm 41:12. What does the Lord to for David because of his integrity?

Where does God set David?

We can live a life in view of eternal life which was given to us in Christ Jesus. Integrity is key in a Christian’s walk with God through Jesus Christ. God will show us what it means to live a life of integrity.

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3, NIV).

Read Proverbs 11:3. What guides the upright?

Who are destroyed?

Why are they destroyed?

Duplicity means, “hypocritical cunning or deception; double-dealing” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). The unfaithful are guided by duplicity and cunning behavior. However, they will be destroyed instead of the upright being guided by God.

“Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse” (Proverbs 28:6, NIV).

Read Proverbs 28:6. What description is given about the poor?

Who are they better than?

How are the rich described?

In this verse, it is important to remember that it is not the poor who are better than the rich. The important description describes the blameless vs. the perverse. Perverse means, “deviating from what is considered right or good” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary).

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit” (Proverbs 28:18, NIV). We are to live a blameless and upright life which brings glory to God. This is a life of integrity. God’s Word describes what it means to live a life of upright living.

Name a time when you were tempted to not live a life of integrity.

What happened as a result?

How did God help you to choose a life of integrity?

What Scripture spoke to you during this time?

How were you blessed by living a life of integrity?

We will indeed be blessed by living a life of integrity. The world will tempt us to look out for ourself, even if it includes lying and cheating. However, God will help us to live a life of integrity if we pray and ask Him.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, I ask You this day to help me live a life of integrity. Help me to choose the right path to follow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Samuel Johnson

There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity. Tom Peters

Integrity is the noblest possession. Latin Proverb

THINK ON SUCH THINGS CH 7: EXCELLENT CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY

Since my diagnosis of bipolar disorder, I have encountered many trials. I have made foolish choices which shook me to the core. However, after every encounter with a manic or depressive episode, I was made stronger. I developed a never-give-up perseverance. I was able to comfort others in the same way God comforted me. Something else unexpected happened – my character was developed. As my character was developed, I drew closer to God in the process. I can now thank God for bringing such good out of the bipolar disorder.

MEMORY VERSE

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Character…

Character is “moral strength; self-discipline, fortitude” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is “moral excellence and firmness” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

Integrity…

Integrity is “the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty and sincerity” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is a “firm adherence to a code of…moral…values” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

HIDDEN GEMS

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3, NIV). When we walk in integrity, we are upright. Character and integrity needs to be an important focus in a Christian’s life. We can pray to God and study His Word in order to walk in uprightness.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11, NIV).

Read Acts 17:11. Who were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica?

How did they receive the message?

What did they do on a daily basis?

Why did they do this?

We can receive the Word of God with eagerness. This develops character and integrity. We can look in His Word to see how Jesus lived and follow His example. When we listen to preachers, we need to look to His Word to make sure it is being taught according to the Bible.

“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace” (2 Corinthians 1:12, NIV).

Read 2 Corinthians 1:12. What did Paul’s conscience testify?

How did he conduct himself?

What did they not rely upon?

What did they rely upon?

We must rely upon God’s grace to walk in integrity and character. His grace will strengthen us in our trials and develop character in the process. We can then praise God for bringing good out of our trials.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:8-9, NIV).

Read Philippians 3:8-9. What did Paul consider his past?

Why was this so?

For whom did he lose all things?

What did Paul consider these things?

Who did he desire to gain?

Where does self-righteousness come from?

Where does righteousness through Christ come from?

On what basis?

Self-righteousness is binding and not freedom because it focuses on the law. We have freedom in Christ as we focus on the righteousness of God which comes through faith. We then have freedom to do all God commands us to do in our lives according to His will.

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8, NIV).

Read Titus 3:7-8. How are we to set an example?

What are teachers to show?

What can this teaching not be?

What will happen to those who oppose you?

Why is this so?

When we walk in integrity and character, we set an example for others to follow. We follow the moral principles God has taught in His Word. This will lead to moral excellence and uprightness.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you” (Psalm 25:21, NIV). We all have struggles in this life, but integrity will protect us from harm when we hope in the Lord. However, we must be in a good company of believers to develop character and integrity as we share His Word and set examples for each of us to follow. “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV).

Name a time when you followed bad company.

How did this affect your walk with God?

How did God get your attention?

What did you do?

How did turning back to God renew your fellowship with Him?

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9, NIV). We can have secure lives when we walk in integrity. Character and integrity strengthen our Christian walk.

Name a time when you walked in integrity.

How did you focus upon God’s Word?

How did this strengthen your walk with God?

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV). We can glorify God through our strong character and integrity. In this way, we can do all things for the glory of God. We can praise Him for Jesus, who set an example for us to follow.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to dig deeply into Your Word to develop character and integrity. May these fruits be developed in my trials I face in the world today. May I always glorify you in my actions and deeds. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. James L. Christensen

He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has. Henry Wart Beecher

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. Ann Landers

Integrity is the noblest possession. Latin proverb

There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity. Tom Peters

CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER CH 3: INTEGRITY

I always strived to be the good girl in my family. I thrived on the praise given to me by my teachers and parents. I thought I was good in God’s eyes. However, that all changed one April as an adult. It is a month I will never forget. I had my first manic episode. I made foolish decisions and was arrested for disorderly conduct. I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I felt like I had fallen far from the grace of God. I thought that my integrity would be stained forever. However, I clung to the thin thread of a lifeline to God. As I became stabilized on medication for the bipolar disorder, God helped me to see the good He brought out of it, including removing me of the pride of my own self-effort. I thought I had to be a good girl to find God’s acceptance. However, in the end, I was strengthened in my walk with God and my integrity was based upon the grace of God alone instead of my own efforts. God helped me to separate what I did during the manic episode from who I was as a child of God. As I repented, God helped me to see me as He saw me. God saw me as a woman of integrity in Christ. God’s grace does indeed cover a multitude of sins.

MEMORY VERSE

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3, NIV).

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Integrity…

Integrity is “the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary). It is a “firm adherence to a code of esp. moral…values” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

HIDDEN GEMS

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9, NIV). Integrity is important in a Christian’s life. We can live upright, godly lives as we seek to glorify God and realize integrity is built upon trust in God and His Word. We will walk securely versus the uncertainty of walking the crooked paths.

Read 2 Corinthians 1:12. How did Paul conduct in the world?

What did they not rely upon?

What did they rely upon?

Our conduct is of vital importance in our walk with God. God alone can guide us along the right path. We can walk with integrity and godly sincerity when we accept God’s grace instead of seeking the uncertain path of this world and its sinful nature.

Read Titus 2:7-8. How were they to set an example?

What were they to show in their teaching?

How is soundness of speech described?

What will happen to those who opposed them if they walked in integrity?

What will those who oppose them have nothing to say about them?

Integrity should be of importance to a believer. As we walk in the will of God, He will direct our steps. However, when we stray from the path, our integrity is at stake. The good news is that God is right there to restore us when we return to Him for help.

YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

Integrity and uprightness are placed in utmost value among believers. However, the world’s perception of integrity can interfere with our perception of integrity. God alone can instill the importance of integrity and seeing it from a Christian viewpoint.

How do you view integrity?

Do you look to the opinions of others as a gage of your uprightness?

How has the opinions of others skew your view of yourself?

What road did God lead you on to see the importance of your worth and value in Him alone?

How did this free you from being a people-pleaser?

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you” (Psalm 25:21, NIV). The Lord is our protector as our walk is upright. Our hope is placed in God and not in our individual accomplishments. When we look to our accomplishments for worth and value, we will always come up short. However, when we place our hope in God, our integrity and worth is upright and of immense worth and value.

Name a time when you placed value in your accomplishments.

What accomplishments were they?

How was your worth tied into your accomplishments?

What was the result?

How did God bring you to place your worth and value in Him alone?

Integrity is based upon God alone. We can live upright, godly lives as we seek out the treasures found in His Word. God desires for us to not place our worth and value in accomplishments but in His grace alone. It is then we will find freedom and His peace that passes all understanding.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to always walk in integrity and uprightness. I look to You alone for strength to endure my trials as well as to see myself as You see me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

NUGGETS OF WISDOM

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Samuel Johnson

There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity. Tom Peters

Integrity is the noblest possession. Latin proverb

Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. William Penn

The recognition of an objective moral law drives us to the belief in God. David Elton Trueblood