Reuben Gonzales was in the final match of a pro racquetball tournament. In the fourth and final game, Gonzales made a super kill shot into the front wall to win the game. The referee called it good. Two linesmen affirmed that the shot was in. But Gonzales, after a moment’s hesitation, turned around, shook his opponent’s hand, and declared that his shot had hit the floor first. As a result, he lost the match and walked off the court. Everybody was stunned. They could not believe that a player with victory in hand disqualified himself at match point and lost! When asked why he did it, Reuben said, “It was the only thing that I could do to maintain my integrity. I could always win another match, but I could never regain my lost integrity.” 

I have often pondered the word integrity. As a Christian, integrity is especially important in my life. There was a time in my Christian walk that I was a bit loosey-goosey when it was convenient for me. Today, I can truly say that I do not want to confess one thing and live another. Integrity is sorely lacking in our world.

With twenty-four-hour news available to us and more social media posts than I care to think about, there is a constant churning out of stories of people doing things which show a lack of integrity. Who can forget the scandal of musical duo Milli Vanilli passing off recordings of songs that were not even their voices? Politicians are accused of taking bribes, lying, cheating, and sexual misconduct. Priests and pastors are suspected of abusing children or leading a hidden life of immorality. I recently read the story of a church deacon arrested for killing another driver in a case of road rage. It can make a person wonder if there are any people of integrity anymore.

My heart has been grieved and deeply troubled by the growing number of well-known ministers who have fallen because of a lack of integrity. They were people who were very gifted and adored by thousands and thousands. It matters not how gifted a man or woman of God is if there is a lack of integrity in their behind-the-scenes life. This is true for those in the pulpit and those on the pew.

I make an appeal to all of us to bow at the altar of God, ask for a cleansing, and commit ourselves to walk in integrity. People should be able to look at our lives and witness a standard of God’s morals and character. As believers, we should be who we declare we are not just in words, but in behavior, actions, and lifestyle, and walking in Christlikeness.

“Integrity may not always offer the quickest path to fame or riches, but it offers the path that leads to blessings, not just for you, but for those around you too. The blessing of being a person of integrity is the blessing of being the person you were created to be, being the person God wants you to be, and being the person the world needs you to be. –  Dr. Brian Koning

Brothers and sisters, integrity matters.

“The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.” – Proverbs 21:3