In Proverbs 19:1 KJV "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool." To me integrity is far more valuable than wealth, but most people don't act as if they believe this. Maybe they afraid of not getting everything they want and they will pay any price to increase their wealth. Cheating on taxes, stealing from employees, refusing to give etc. But when we know and love God, we realize that a lower standard of living, or even poverty, is a small price to pay for personal integrity. Why do you think that some are willing to sacrifice their own integrity for personal gain, even if it means hurting someone along the way? I just do not understand, nor do I ever want to.
2007-04-28 09:44:43 · 11 answers · asked by meganzopf 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't believe that a person has to believe in God to have integrity. And I don't believe that God wants everyone to be poor. Not all rich people lack integrity. I was responding to the verse itself, not to what people believe. I would lack integrity if I believed that was the case with all people. I am not that ignorant and I am not here to judge anyone. I just asked what it meant to you?
2007-04-28 10:14:27 · update #1
Close to the end times, "Man will be lovers of money than lovers of God."
With money comes power. People strive and thirst for the money so they can have the Power. In order to gain what they want for selfishness, they do whatever it takes to get it. Bottom line most of these dishonest people do "sell their soul to the devil." With that destruction falls upon themself and family. You see alot of this happening among powerful people now. Never think a person will not get caught because the doing of the devil always fail.
2007-04-28 10:39:55 · answer #1 · answered by Debs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Integrity means being a person of your word. It means being unafraid to speak your truth even if the truth hurts. Most people are either so worried about hurting someone's feelings that they won't tell them the truth or they are so caught up in their own material gain that truth has no meaning for them. They have lied so often that the lies become familiar and start to to sound like truth. You are so right that so many people are willing to sacrifice their integrity and cheat others as long as they end up with the most money or the biggest house or the most powerful car.
I don't think that integrity and poverty have to go hand in hand. I think if you have strong intent to seek your passion in life and realize that God doesn't know the word scarcity, abundance will come to you. It may not always be an abundance or an excess of money, but all your needs and desires will be met. Many people are taught by religions that they must sacrifice or be martyrs to be closer to God, but this is not true. God is not vengeful and petty. God is loving and giving.
2007-04-28 16:59:03 · answer #2 · answered by friendlyadvice 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personal integrity is not a blanket statement. You just made it about someones personal choices. Therefore you are out of the equation and you don't need to understand it.
For one that doesn't use the Bible as my guide, I use my own internal guidelines. Integrity is also not a gift, but a developement of a person's character and maturity. I got on a childs case the other day for something because I didn't realize that she was a child. If I had, my response would have been different. What she displayed in her integrity was immaturity not immorality.
Many people without personal accountability are outside of their integrity and that is not biblical related. Judging others as without integrity is a wasted exercise and will not reflect well on you.
You have no idea what messing in everyone elses business does to your own house/self.
2007-04-28 16:56:28 · answer #3 · answered by shakalahar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Integrity.... being true to what I believe is right, and always trying to find more truth (to make my knowledge of right and wrong more complete).
When people lack integrity, it is usually because they haven't yet found what they are looking for. They don't know who they are, or aren't sure what they believe, so they try out various things to see if it will make them happy.
My Dad was a man of GREAT integrity.... as far as I can tell, he NEVER did anything that he believed was wrong.... except when he couldn't help it ie he was too sick to work, but felt absolutely terrible about not working. A person of integrity with a closed mind (who won't accept new concepts of right and wrong) is likely to end up unhappy, as my Dad did.
Added: Integrity isn't always beneficial if it is not coupled with the concepts of humility/respect and forgiveness of self and others. No-one is really so perfect that their actions are beyond question.
2007-04-28 17:09:14 · answer #4 · answered by MumOf5 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Integrity is a word used describing actions made pertaining to certain key values. To me, it means never judge on race, never judge on age, never judge on religion, never judge on first impressions, and never judge a person on things he can't control. It may seem a bit repetitive, but that is how I try to see the world. Many people, all different, all equal of praise.
Though I don't share you religion, and I don't share your race, and probably not you age, let us still join hands and begin on the path towards peace and understanding, forever and eternity.
2007-04-28 16:51:37 · answer #5 · answered by Elerth Morrow ™ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Integrity is living in all honesty, with yourself, your fellow man and with God. Unfortunately this world we live in lacks in integrity nowadays, more so than ever. It's the worlds way and Christians are just as lacking in it as the world. I agree.
2007-04-28 16:51:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I think that God would say to some people who have had money that they've been foolish and to some who didn't that they've been wise. This I what I think of money but it is like this if I have a job to do that wouldn't mean that I can no longer think or have morals.
2007-04-28 16:54:06 · answer #7 · answered by lord_andys_new_id 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Integrity brings long-term success and the goodwill of others. It is not a service to God, he doesn't need it, but it pleases him.
It's an excersize in discipline. One that i failed many times... :/
2007-04-28 16:50:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
integrity means something like 'whole' a set of connected related coherent opinions / actions / things / stuff in one person / institute
2007-04-28 16:48:31 · answer #9 · answered by gjmb1960 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My word is my bond and I always follow through on any thing I promise to do.
2007-04-28 16:48:11 · answer #10 · answered by Gypsy Gal 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋