Living with Integrity

Integrity is personal. It’s something you hold. No one else can dictate or force your integrity. You either have it or you don’t.

Integrity is built on your core values. What do you believe and hold to most strongly? These values and beliefs mold and shape you and give you a foundation out of which your integrity grows.

You can build integrity, if you are low on it. But it means making conscious decisions and choices to live according to your values. Yesterday I wrote about decision-making and how change happens one small decision at a time. If you decide to grow in integrity, you will need to rely on your values and commit to making small decisions no matter how difficult.

In some situations, your integrity is all you have. This morning, I began reading the biblical book of Esther. In the first chapter, King Xerxes threw a huge banquet for his officials and nobles. As part of this banquet, he called for his wife, Queen Vashti, to come before the group. The text notes that Vashti was well-known and well-regarded for her beauty. The likely connotation is that Xerxes wanted her to display that beauty for the benefit of his guests. He intended to use her.

But Queen Vashti refused (1:12). She would not answer the king’s call and come before his guests in such a way. She made a decision based on her integrity.

Xerxes, according to the text, burned with anger. He worked with his politicians and leaders to depose Queen Vashti, banning her from ever coming into his presence again, and giving her royal role to another woman.

She stood up for herself and acted with integrity, even though it cost her everything. Her integrity and values were more important to her than whatever she might have gained for compromising them.

Integrity enables us to stand and to make difficult choices when we are called to.

Where do you need to grow in integrity? Where has your integrity helped you navigate a difficult time?

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