Young Adults' Group

The Integrity Of The Upright

by Pastor Mark
August 01, 2025

The challenge to have integrity

We live in a perverse world filled with unscrupulous, dishonest and devious people. They seek to use deceitful means to get ahead in life…to become wealthier at the expense of others. Some would even resort to using scams to trick people out of their funds and savings. Such acts are indeed wicked and evil. The challenge for us in seeking to be righteous is to have integrity. It means doing what is morally right, good and honest. The author of Proverbs sought to describe what it means for us to develop a life of integrity.

A life of integrity

1. Walking with integrity

“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.” (Proverbs 10:9)

1. A righteous man will walk with integrity.
2. He seeks to walk the way of truth and honesty.
3. The word “securely” is contrasted with the next phrase, which is perversity.
4. As this man has no perversity, nothing can be hurled against him and he is secure.
5. But the perverse person may try and hide his ways. When he does not repent, his way of life is not secure, as he will be found out and made public.

2. Guidance for our life

“The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” (Proverbs 11:3)

1. Integrity is one of the ways to guide our lives.
2. Other ways of guidance include the Lord’s leading, wisdom and more.
3. Integrity guides our way and ensures that we make good and upright choices.
4. But those who are perverse and unfaithful do not have the integrity to guide them.
5. As there is no guidance, they will face destruction.

Honesty is the Lord’s way

1. The Lord’s perspective of dishonesty

1. An abomination to the Lord…“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” (Proverbs 11:1)
   • One aspect of integrity is to be honest.
   • Without integrity, many would seek to use dishonest means to do business.
   • Such dishonesty is an abomination to the Lord.
   • But He will delight in those who are just in doing work.
2. There will be consequences…“Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labour will increase. ” (Proverbs 13:11)
   • There are grave consequences for those who gained wealth through dishonest means.
   • All that they have gained will be diminished and lost.

2. The Lord’s understanding of honesty

“Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are His work.” (Proverbs 16:11)

Solomon understood that honest weights and scales belong to the Lord. When we have honesty and integrity in doing our work, we follow the Lord’s way. Let us be challenged to live a life of integrity and honesty as we strive to be righteous in an evil and perverse world.

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