Proverbs 28:6. Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
If asked, I’m sure most, if not all, of us would rather be rich than poor. Typically, poverty is not presented as a good thing in the Bible, and the Bible doesn’t condemn being rich. So, rich it is.
But what we often can’t see right away is the heart behind the bank account. The integrity or the crookedness. In fact, we tend to judge people who are rich as also being smarter and even better than others, especially those who are poor. Isn’t their superiority the reason for their wealth? And what about the poor? Don’t we also judge the beggars amongst us as some sort of failure, moral or otherwise?
But God would much rather that we look beneath the surface to the heart of every individual. The heart of a person is what truly matters. Do they have integrity?
Integrity is an inner quality. Those with integrity live their lives in an honest way, always doing what they say they will do. They are not the cheaters and deceivers of this world, but rather they “swear to their own hurt” as the Psalmist says. In Proverbs this word, integrity, refers to someone who fully trusts the Lord. They are not crooked in their ways, but rather, follow the path of God. The implication in today’s Proverb is that this person is poor BECAUSE of their integrity. Manipulation and corruption may have gotten them ahead in life, but they have refused to compromise their faith.
Of course this proverb doesn’t mean that no rich people have integrity and all poor people do. But it does mean that we should value our integrity way more than we value gaining wealth, status, and power. Why? Because a lack of integrity makes one crooked in their ways. A twisted life. A perverse path. This person is shifty, tricky, and double-minded. His morality is rooted in the moment, not in eternity. Lies, half-truths, broken promises, back-stabbing, become easier and easier to live with the more we practice them. But what does a person profit if they gain the world but lose their soul?
Jesus was the ultimate example of this proverb. Poor but true. Not just true to himself, but true to God (which for Jesus was the same thing). Jesus is the only person who has ever lived in perfect integrity. No lies. No deceptions. No manipulations. Never a broken promise or half-truth. Never a duplicitous moment. Never an immoral thought. His perfection did not bring him riches. In fact, when tempted with riches in the wilderness his whole-hearted devotion to the Father reigned supreme.
Can you say the same? Of course not. None of us can. Praise Jesus that he withstood all temptation to set aside his integrity in exchange for power, wealth, and fame. If he hadn’t where would any of us be? On the crooked path of self-destruction, that’s where.
But in Christ integrity doesn’t have to be a moral fantasy. We can embrace being true to who we are in Christ on a moment by moment basis. We can choose honesty. We can keep promises. We can practice justice and fairness. We can forsake power for the power of love. How? By trusting who we are. Whose we are. We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings. Our riches are unsearchable. Our treasures are in Heaven. The universe is ours in him. There’s no need to bend, no need to waiver, no need to put ourselves first, when Jesus has made us, his bride, first in his heart.
You: Have you ever lost your integrity in order to gain earthly riches or success?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ satisfy our hearts so as to remove the “need” for self-promotion through crooked ways?
Christ in you: Is there a situation you will face today that will require integrity? How can Christ in you allow you to put his ways before any crooked way?
Pray: Father, who can dwell with you? Only those who have the integrity of Christ, your Son. Let me live in his integrity today, by your grace. Amen.
To Live is Christ 