INTEGRITY
By Synthia Esther
1st John 3-5, " This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, (4) for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (5) Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." There are many stories in the Bible that describe spiritual and personal integrity, but when I think of an over comer, I think of Job.
Job suffered personal loss of his children, home, income, health, yet through his many trials and tribulations he never lost his faith in God. Because of Job's faithful obedience despite his hardships God made Job prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before (Job 42). We read of his double blessings in Job 42: 12-16, ".... fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys and 7 sons and 3 daughters." I heard a well known minister preach a sermon concerning the fact that scripture states Job started with 7 sons and 3 daughters who had all died, how could it be a double portion when Job ended up with only 7 sons and 3 daughters? If you do the math he should have been given 20 children. The minister explained, "Job's first 10 children are alive in Heaven, adding a blessing of 10 more children gives Job a total of 20 children, which is exactly double." As Christians we are blessed with the gift of eternal life and the assurance we will see our saved loved ones again when we are reunited in Heaven. Though Job's first 10 children were dead physically they are spiritually alive.
In the midst of Job's difficulties he was left with weak minded friends and a nagging wife. Job 2:9-10 , His wife said to him, " Are you still holding onto your integrity? Curse God and die!" (10) He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" Job became despondent and cursed the day he was born (Job 3:3). Yet he never wavered in his obedience or his righteousness towards God and His sovereignty.
We read in Job 27:3-6, "...as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, (4) my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit. (5) I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. (6) I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live. Job faced a lot of changes in his life time and change is often difficult. Weather changes, parenthood changes, relationship changes, financial changes, health changes, just to name a few. Changes and choices are an inevitable part of life. But when our choice is to trust in Jesus, we can live a life of plasticity knowing He is with us through all our changes.
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:
Philippians 4:12-13, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (13) I can do every thing through him who gives me strength."
ADDITIONAL RELATED READING RESOURCES BY SYNTHIA ESTHER:
- The Secret Law Of Attraction - A False Reality Of A Conceptual Manner
- My Sacred Journey Home
- Advancing The Kingdom
- Your Pain Has A Purpose
- Surviving The Storm
- A Free Gift
