"An Integrity-Filled Heart”

A Christian’s Heart

“An Integrity-Filled Heart”

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When talking about the qualities that are necessary for a Christian heart, integrity is one quality that cannot be ignored. The reason is because that’s the type of heart God desires and uses.

Of King David it says, “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” (Psalm 78:72 NIV)

It was with such an integrous heart that God commended David. In Acts 13:22 the Lord’s testimony of David says, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”

If David had a heart after God’s heart, and if David’s heart was integrous, therefore it can be concluded that integrity is an integral part of God’s own heart, in other words, integrity is one of God’s qualities.

This is seen in something Moses said about God’s character.

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19 NKJV)

And so, a Christian’s heart needs to be integrous, because an integrous heart, a heart filled with integrity is part of God’s own heart.

Therefore, I think it’s safe to say that integrity is needed now more than ever. There are several reasons why. First, we live in a society where what was once called good and integrous, is now being called evil, and what was once called evil is now being called good and true.

How bad is this in the eyes and heart of God. Remember, integrity is a part of God’s own heart. And Isaiah prophesied this, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness…” (Isaiah 5:20 NKJV)

But also, our society is drowning in lies. We are living in a world that is lived more by the lie than by the truth, and the sad part is that most people don’t even think it’s that big a deal.

But it is a big deal, and the Bible calls it sin. In fact, it’s such a big deal to God in how it hurts our relationship with Him and others that He makes it one of His big ten, that is, the Ten Commandments. This one is the ninth to be exact.

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16 NKJV)

But, before we can continue looking at what is an integrity-filled heart, I think it’s important that we understand what integrity is.

Having integrity is adhering to truth and a code of values, and for Christians, it means adhering to God’s word. Synonyms would include being honest, a person of high moral character, a person of virtue, a person who lives their lives in accordance with the values set forth in the Bible, values they say they believe in. 

Therefore, integrity is about being honest, fair, and having a strong sense of what is right and wrong. It’s adhering to the moral and ethical principles set forth in God’s word, which speaks directly to a person’s character, that is, who they truly are.

But it also has a second definition, and that is a person who is undivided and thus unwavering in their belief and trust in God. Integrity is not so much about what we do as it is about who we are. It means we live according to what we say and believe in.

It’s about who we are on the inside more than what we portray on the outside. It’s doing right when no one else is looking, and who we are in the dark more than what we do in the light.

Integrity, therefore, is best defined by how it’s fleshed out in our lives.

It’s about keeping our word even when it hurts.

It’s about being honest in all our dealings.

It’s practicing morality in both our bodies and in our minds.

It’s about admitting mistakes and doing what’s necessary to make them right.

This is why integrity of heart is something God is searching for in His people.

King David said that it’s only with an integrous heart that we can dwell in God’s presence. So, if we want to dwell in the presence of God, then we have to have integrity, and thus live our lives by it.

“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.” (Psalm 15:1-2 NKJV)

In fact, God is pleased when we do walk with integrity in our hearts. In Proverbs 11:20 the Lord says that while He detests people with crooked and twisted hearts, He does delight in those with integrity.