Living with Integrity
Do you know someone who lives with integrity? I’m referring to that rare individual who always seems to do and say the right thing. It’s refreshing to know people like this, isn’t it? But here’s something we need to understand: people who live this way do so by choice. You see, integrity doesn’t just happen. It’s not a personality bent, a spiritual gift, nor is it something we strive to be. Instead, living with integrity is something God empowers us to do when we commit to Him to live this way.
David’s Commitment
In Psalm 101 David shows us what this commitment looks like. Recently installed as Israel’s King, David is feeling the weight of leading God’s people. This is why, at the start of his reign, his first priority was committing his actions to God:
“I will walk with a heart of integrity in my own house.” Psalm 101:2 (CEB)
David’s commitment is honorable. Yet, you may wonder why he made it about his role at home rather than his role as King. There’s actually a good reason for this. You see, David understood that to walk in integrity publicly, he first needed to live this way privately.
Understanding Integrity
Integrity is often associated with moral ethics or righteous actions, but it’s actually deeper than that. The Hebrew word for integrity is tom, meaning completeness or wholeness. In essence, tom describes a person whose character remains consistent regardless of who they’re with or what they’re doing. You see, integrity isn’t something we turn on and off at will. It’s the real us—not the false version, the “wish‑we‑were” version, the public version, or the Sunday version. It’s who we are when we’re alone unobserved and unfiltered.
I think sometimes we view integrity as something reserved for the challenges of life—the hard conversations, the difficult decisions, or the temptations we face. But the fact is, integrity is lived out in real time—in our ordinary moments, daily choices, interactions, and conversations.
Practically, this might look like returning our carts in the grocery store parking lot, picking up trash that isn’t ours, expressing appreciation to those in the service industry, offering an apology, asking for forgiveness, choosing not to gossip, releasing offense, rejecting jealousy, and refusing to be angry, prideful, or self‑centered. These are not insignificant actions. They are intentional choices that remind us of what integrity looks like in everyday life.
Jesus Our Model
Thankfully, Jesus modeled integrity for us. In every conversation, every response or purposeful silence, in every prayer, frustration, and heartache, He showed us what perfect integrity looks like and how it behaves. He consistently spoke truth, healed the sick, lifted the marginalized, honored His Father, and demonstrated mercy and compassion. The fact is, Jesus never had one “non‑integrity” day. Even in His darkest hour on the cross, He prayed forgiveness for His accusers, made provision for His mother, and extended grace to a dying man.
As we wrap this up, I’d like to return one last time to David’s example—not to his noble commitment to walk with integrity, but to his humble confession of sin when he blew it big time (2 Samuel 12:13). This too is what integrity looks like. You see, choosing to live with integrity doesn’t mean we’ll always get it right, nor does it mean we’ll live perfectly. Only Jesus has ever lived this way. But it does require daily surrender and a radical dependence on the Holy Spirit, who works in us to will and to do what pleases our Father (Philippians 2:13).
So perhaps spend some time in honest dialogue with God, asking Him to strengthen your resolve to walk in integrity in every area of your life. And above all, thank Him for sending Jesus, who modeled perfect integrity for you, and for choosing you to live in this world as He did (1 John 4:17).
Pray
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me what true integrity looks and acts like. Empower me by Your Spirit to live as You did, honest, humble, faithful, compassionate, merciful, and committed. Transform my heart so that my thoughts, words, and actions consistently reflect Your goodness and truth. And please work through me so that others can see how truly beautiful You are. Amen.
Reflect
Why is a personal commitment to private integrity so important to living it out publicly?
In what specific ways are you encouraged knowing the Holy Spirit empowers you to live this way?
My friends, your thoughts matter! I’d love to hear from you. Consider sharing your responses in the comment section below!