The Blessings of a Life of Integrity

I watch the news. I peek behind the curtain of politics. I examine my life and the life of my friends and I am compelled to pass on this post on integrity by Rick Warren — Oct 31, 2015.

Rick’s entire original post can be found by clicking here. I encourage you to read it in its entirety. I hope it will convict and inspire you as it did me.

I have included portions of Rick’s post below so that I could embed my thoughts in response to his points. My comments are in red italics.

My own post entitled, “Day One,” will appear next Thursday. It is an essential follow up.

How Integrity Blesses You

BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 31, 2015

The Bible says that God blesses those who have integrity (Matthew 5:8). So what are the blessings you can expect when you live your life with authenticity and a pure heart?

Personal Confidence

When you have integrity, you become the kind of person that other people like to be around because you know who you are and where you’re going.

Proverbs 10:9 says, “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed” (NLT, second edition).

When you don’t have integrity, it’s like walking on an icy path after a snowstorm. You’re putting every bit of your energy into trying not to fall. When you have integrity, you’re standing on solid ground.

The lowest points in my life were those when I realized I was not living with integrity.   Depression and insecurity stalked me like a hungry wolf.  As I allow God to change me I can feel the power and confidence that only comes with living a pure and upright life.  Living with nothing to hide is essential to living Fully Alive. – Ken

A Lasting Legacy

Your greatest legacy is your integrity, because it will last from generation to generation. Everything else that you do gets lost. When you’re gone, your money will be divided among your family, and it’s going to be spent. Your work will be given to somebody else. All the trophies that you’ve earned are going to be thrown in the trash and taken to the dump.

But your character is going to be translated into the lives of the people around you and then into the lives of the next generation. It is a lasting legacy.

The Bible says in Proverbs 20:7, “A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone” (GW).

Regardless of the past, you can begin today to build this kind of legacy.  One of the reasons I am driven to examine my life daily is because I want my life to influence my children and grandchildren to live with integrity experience these blessings. – Ken

Rewards in Eternity

Matthew 25:21 says, “You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things” (NCV).

We tend to think that the rewards are in the big moments of life, where everybody is watching. But it’s in the small moments that you show real integrity. Every small word of encouragement you give this next week will be rewarded eternally. Every small act of kindness will be rewarded in eternity. Every time you reject a temptation, you will be rewarded in eternity.

That’s the power of integrity and the difference it makes not just here but for eternity!

What I do today matters….  Forever! 

Thanks to Rick Warren for this reminder. What if all your life hasn’t been one of integrity?  What if you have to start from scratch. Begin a new path today. I promise you will be encouraged by my post next week. Day One. – Ken