INTEGRITY 
JOB 2:1-10 (3), (9)

June 1, 1997 Issue
by Mark Deatherage 

Job lost every material blessing (which is more than we can comprehend) and all his sons and his daughters in chapter 1. Then we find in chapter 2 Satan being allowed to come and afflict Job for the second time and this was based on the statement in Job 2:3, "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." God proclaims to Satan that Job is still holding on to his integrity. Satan this time is allowed to touch Job’s flesh. Causing Job to be put the test in every conceivable way, then only to have his wife ask in verse 9 "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die?"

The question we have to ask ourselves is this very question: Are we still holding to our integrity? But what does integrity really mean? Integrity means to be completely honest, this is how Job won respect of God (verse 3). Being completely honest means, quite simply, we do what we say we believe. This is the very manner in which we will win the respect of God as well. God is looking for the people that will proclaim Him as Lord and King in every aspect of our lives, not just in words but in deeds as well. Every avenue of our lives makes a statement. It tells those that are around us (our friends, neighbors, co-workers, family and our God) what we believe. We that have the boldness to stand up and say that we are Christians, but are not willing to live it, we are living a lie.

The society that surrounds us are looking for something to trust in. They are asking, "Are you for real? Can I trust what you’re saying?" Christians bear the responsibility of demonstrating unquestionable character before man and God! It is a sobering thought to realize that we may be the only Bible the world ever read. The way we live our lives may give licenses to those living around us for what may be acceptable or unacceptable behavior. Do we realize what we do, or possibly what we do not do may be leading others astray? Do we realize that if we are leading others astray that we ourselves are missing the mark. I am reminded of a couple spoken of in the New Testament, in Acts 5:1-11. This is the story telling of Ananias and Sapphira as they lied to the Holy Ghost. It was not wrong to keep part of the money they received for the land, but it was wrong to lie, and while God does not deal as quickly today as He did back then, He still takes it very serious when we begin to tell lies! The same is true about heavenly matters.

Members of the Church are called on to demonstrate Christ in their lives by exemplary conduct in every area of life. The overcoming of sins in the lives of Christians was proof of the redeeming power of Christ, the sins which the community clearly identifies and challenges (Galatians 5:19-21) "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (:20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (:21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:  of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." This is a list of categories for every sin that may overcome us. Christians are expected to adopt a new life style that is appropriate to their commitment to Christ. Realize that the world is watching. Realize that God is watching!

Sometimes we can fool those that we go to church with. Sometimes we can fool the ones we work with. We can even fool ourselves. But we can never fool our God.

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