Integrity: A Heart That Pleases God

The life of a leader is filled with many ups and downs.  There are good days and bad days, and amid them all there are lots of lessons taught and learned.  One of the biggest lessons I have learned about being a good leader is the value of being a woman of integrity. 

Integrity is that aspect of moral character that allows you act like you understand God is always with you when no one else is present.  It reflects a posture of love and total commitment to God’s will, word, and ways, governing the heart, mind, and mouth.  It is an overarching representation of honesty and uprightness that causes others to keep you in mind when they need people they can count on.  It speaks for leaders even when they cannot or do not speak for themselves. 

David, a man considered to be “after God’s heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) described the essence of walking in integrity in Psalm 101.  He wrote:

¹  I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

to you, O Lord, I will make music. ² I will ponder the way that is blameless.

Oh when will you come to me?

  I will walk with integrity of heart

within my house;

 ³  I will not set before my eyes

anything that is worthless.

  I hate the work of those who fall away;

it shall not cling to me.

 ⁴  A perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will know nothing of evil. (Psalm 101:1–4 ESV) 

This psalm, thought to be written in the beginning of David’s reign, shows his high regard for the Lord and his desire to emulate the character of the King of his heart. He made up his mind to think about and uphold righteousness. (v.2, 3) He also wanted to remain conscious of the people and things that would influence him, keeping anything unsavory away from him. (v. 3, 4)

As leaders we should consider the ways in which David and others developed their regard for and dependence on the Lord.  Are we following his commands? (1 Samuel 13:13-14) Are we delighting in and meditating on His word day and night? (Psalm 1:2) Is it our aim to please Him in all? (2Corinthians 5:9)

Leaders, let us be mindful to consider God’s heart of love and justice and govern ourselves accordingly.  We should carry ourselves in ways that do not offend Him but instead seek to please Him by replicating His very nature­–blameless, just, trustworthy, loving, etc. May our actions speak for us and the God we serve, thus proving us to be leaders of integrity.

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV)