Integrity

We hear this word often and people can quickly identify who does not have integrity, but what does having true integrity really mean?

The dictionary gives us this meaning,

Integrity: in-teg-ri-ty
noun

1.	adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

2.	the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.

Dictionary.com

So we can say that sticking to what we know is morally and ethically right builds integrity. We can also use the second meaning, being whole. To have integrity is to remain whole and ethically sound.

In Samuel 26:1-25, David builds integrity. He had the opportunity to destroy Saul while he was lying asleep inside the camp, but he remained morally sound. He was at a position to decide the fate of his enemy, but chose to leave.

10 "As surely as the Lord lives," he said, "the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed"...12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up.

We have many chances every day to kill the people we dislike. Maybe not literally, but with our words and actions. There will be opportunities to sabotage another person, but God gives us a choice. It might not be a dramatic decision like life or death, but our daily choices build integrity. Choosing not to put someone else down no matter what they have done to you is something God calls us to do to live honestly and righteously.

23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.