Integrity is for Your Sake

For years, I have listened to ministers say “You have to show yourself approved” before they will let you do something.  They find this from 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  The problem with this scripture it doesn’t say show yourself approved to a minister or to a certain church, it’s all about God’s approval.  I have come to the conclusion when it comes down to approving yourself to them and not God it simply doesn’t work anyways.  What does work is being in the right place at the right time and that’s called being in the will of God.  No, we’re not to be men pleasers in the first place but it does help if we truly please God, so that it will be easier for the minister to approve of you.  We have to understand they are looking for a fruit bearing person.  Yes, it’s in the word that we’re not to be men pleasers but God pleasers in “Ephesians 6:6-7 “6) Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7) With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:” Let’s remind ourselves what the beginning of 2 Timothy 2:15 says again.   It says “Study to shew thyself approved unto God” it didn’t say to man.  We must understand no matter how much we show man our qualifications it just may never meet their standards or we’re simply out of the will of God.  Don’t miss understand me or get upset, we’re never to put a novice in position.  The pastor or church you may want to serve in must consider the type of fruit we’re bearing.  The truth of the matter is this.  Are we bearing enough godly fruit for the Lord to recognize it so he can open up the heart of the minster to allow him to see that we should pass their approval?  After all, we could be the very reason we don’t see that open door coming open in the first place.

Let’s take and go back to 2 Timothy 2:15 and look at what it says next “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed”.   I don’t know about you, but when you take on the approach of pleasing men as the avenue of the open doors to reach out and do the works of God and the doors continually get shut because of man it’s very heart breaking.  So, this is saying don’t be ashamed in the  progress you have advanced to.  Once again, God is the one who opens the door, not man.  God knows when we’re ready.  See, it’s our responsibility to build up our own integrity.  We are going to hold off on the final phrase of 2 Timothy 2:15 at the moment.  We need to see how we can build up our integrity to show ourselves  approved unto God, so he can open up the hearts of our overseers.  Then they will begin to see the fruit that we’re bearing and it just might motivate them to help us find the open doors we are looking for.

Here are some of the ways we can help ourselves build our integrity.  It is understood that we do need salvation to open that door, but it goes much deeper than that.  Let’s look at Joshua 1:8 “8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”  We have to get into his word and let his word teach us what we need to know and the more we read and study it the stronger we get with the word.  This doesn’t mean just read it quickly and meditate on it for a few moments and think we have grasped it.  Let’s take a look at 1 Kings 9:4 “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:”  This may not directly say “get into my word and read the bible” but it does say “And if thou wilt walk before me” which can parallel with get into my word so you can get to know my word a whole lot better.  It also tells us who we’re actually trying to please, “before me” which represents God.  The words “And if thou wilt” puts the responsibility back on us to uphold that integrity.  Then it follows what kind of integrity is needed.   All of those details can be found in studying the word of God and not just skimming over it and think it’s enough.  The other part of this is we have to have a teachable spirit that will allow ourselves to be changed and not have an attitude, “I am who I am and that’s all there is to it” because it won’t work with God, and it certainly won’t help the pastor or whoever is your overseer to see that you should be approved because there is no fruit bearing.  You can find this by reading 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  Our integrity of who we are to be can only be changed by not only reading the word but truly studying the word.  This implies it’s our responsibility again.  This is where everybody can see the light of Jesus in us easier and we are to be what?  Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Again this will help those who are looking for that approved person who wants to help out.

Now, we can’t be double minded either.  That will stop the flow of everything.  James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  Why is this important?  We can’t uphold integrity if we can’t stay focused on the truth of the word.  This also implies we can’t let anybody persuade us into turning our backs against God either.  Job 2:9 “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”  Now what we need to see is the ending of the verse “curse God, and die.”  Why do we need to see this the most?  That will be our final results if we do turn our backs on God.  God really has a victory stored for us.  It’s up to us to find it in the word.  Here is one scripture that can parallel with what is being said that by not turning our backs on God and his word we will have victory in our lives.  Psalms 78:72 says this “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.”   Now, let’s get some insight on what happens to those who choose to have that mindset of “I am who I am and that’s all there is to it.” Proverbs 11:3 explains it at the ending of the verse “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”  Now, this scripture is pointed out not because of some heavy sins, but in reality we have taken on a negative attitude and it will be shown to God and it definitely won’t lead us to a blessing.  Thank God for His Grace and His Mercy that when we do stumble, he will pick us up and dust us off and redirect our paths.  Take a good look at this scripture Psalms 26:11 “But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.”  Again, we have to see that no matter what, if our hearts are really sold out to God his forgiveness is there for us.  That’s why integrity is for us and not for men pleasers.  God knows our hearts.

Finally let’s take a look at the ending or final phrase of 2 Timothy 2:15 “rightfully dividing the word of truth.”  This is telling us God has seen the heart and our integrity of upholding the word because of our actions have shown it. Now, to those who wanted to see it and decided to keep trying to make more demands before we are approved will be at fault not us.  Again, I am not saying it’s okay to put a novice into position or someone who isn’t showing any real fruit or growth into position, but God is really the one who opens the doors for us.  What we need to consider is these scriptures to make certain our integrity is in place so that those doors can be opened up.  Here are some scriptures.  Psalms 26:1 “A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.”  Did you see how it started off?   “Judge me O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity:” and also Psalms 7:8 “The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.”  We must understand we may not always please man but it does pay to please God because he knows our hearts and where we’re heading too.  Now let’s end this with Psalms 41:12 “And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.” When we truly hold to our responsibility to integrity and mean it, God will help us stay in that place as long as we read, study, and have a teachable spirit.  These things will help us in preventing our integrity to be compromised.
 

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