WATCHWORD:
1 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. 2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 3 Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. Proverbs 11:1-3
1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Psalm 15:1-2
Meditation:
Game of Integrity
Many years ago, I was asked to be part of a four-some, playing in a charity golf tournament out of town. We are having a lot of fun on a beautiful golf course, and thoroughly enjoying the event. Then, something happened. On a particularly difficult hole, I hit a most unusual shot, for me, that went exactly where I wanted it to go, bounced in front of the green, hitting the flag, and rolling some 10 feet from the hole. Someone shouted, “If it hits the pin, it’s in!” and we moved on to the next hole. When awards were being handed out, we were told that our team had won the tournament by one stroke, and we took away the prizes. I had a problem with that, but said nothing.
First Tee is a marvelous program for young golfers. You learn about the game, you receive instruction, and you learn about the pillars of the game, especially, integrity. You learn that without honesty, it is no longer a game, you could never know for sure how your game is improving, or how you are competing with your opponent. It is a high-quality program that has benefited so many of our youth.
Winn Collier, writing in Our Daily Bread, started his devotional, entitled A Life of Integrity, with this: “Abel Mutai, a Kenyan runner competing in a grueling international cross country race, was mere yards from victory — his lead secure. Confused by the courses signage and thinking he had already crossed the finish line, Mutai stopped short! The Spanish runner in second place, Ivan Fernandez Anaya, saw Mutai’s mistake. Rather than take advantage and bolt passed for the win, he caught up to Mutai, put out his arm and guided him forward to the gold-medal win.” Anaya chose honesty over victory.
Integrity, in golf, in running, in life, means something. The word integrity in Proverbs 11 comes from the root word tamam, meaning “to be complete, be finished, be at an end.” It denotes moral wholeness and innocence. It’s probably of some significance that I’m still thinking about our cheating in that simple Little charity outing so many years ago. Oh, I joined in the laughter on the way home, but, here it is, still on my mind. Integrity is cleansing, it leaves no room for second thoughts, does not leave behind debris of guilt.
In Psalm 15:2, there is another form of this Hebrew word, translated as blameless, and asks the question: Who is it that will enjoy fellowship with God? The answer: The person of integrity. So be it.
Prayer for Integrity:
Lord, please make me pure of heart. Help me to be a person of honesty and integrity. May the truth that You place in my heart be the basis of my actions and my words. May I speak with a clear conscience always speaking what You give me to speak.
