An Immeasurable Gift To The Next Generation
“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.”-Proverbs 20:7
What would you hope to one day pass on to your kids? If you don’t have kids, what do you think you’d like to pass on to the next generation? Is it money? It is wisdom? How would you like to impact the ones who come after you? The truth is, one way or another, we are all influencing those around us, including those who are younger than us. What kind of legacy do we want to leave? According to God, one of the most positive and impactful things we can do for our children, for the next generation, is to live a life of integrity.
What is integrity? Does integrity even matter? Vocabulary.com describes integrity like this: “Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way.” The Britannica Dictionary defines integrity in this simple way: “The quality of being honest and fair.” We know this: God is perfect in integrity. He always does the right thing in a reliable way. He is completely honest and faithfully fair. It’s important for us to remember that God calls us to follow Him - with His strength - in living a life of integrity, for a life of integrity glorifies God. In Proverbs 11:20 we’re told, “The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but He delights in those with integrity.” We also know that a life of integrity is a gift to those around us! I love what Chuck Swindoll said about integrity: “Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people you rub shoulders with everyday need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not preachy. Just cracker jack clean living. Just honest to goodness, bone-deep, non-hypocritical integrity.”
Is integrity a priority for us? Are we choosing integrity, relying on God’s strength to live with integrity? Not one of us is sinless. We all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We all need mercy. Fortunately, God offers it to us daily (Lamentations 3:22-23). At the same time, we know God calls us to holiness, to integrity, and that everything God calls us to do as followers of Christ - and this includes living a life of integrity - He gives us His strength to do it (Philippians 4:13). We know that the Holy Spirit who lives in every Christian WILL help us as we depend on Him (Galatians 5:16). So let’s choose right now to be those who walk with integrity! David did this. Thus, he sincerely prayed, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer”(Psalm 19:14). May we pray similarly! God is honored as we walk with integrity. And people are blessed as we live with integrity.
Lord, we have no strength on our own to live a life of integrity. But You offer us Your power to live as You’ve called us to live! Thank you! We trust Your strength, and we choose to obey You, living as You have called us to live. May our lives be marked with integrity, for we know that You are praised with such a life, and people around us are inspired. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Cheeer up, friends!
-Scott