IMAGE VS INTEGRITY
In a comic strip, two elderly ladies are pictured walking around a country churchyard, when they come upon a tombstone with the inscription: "Here lies John Smith, a politician and an honest man.""Good heavens!" exclaimed one lady to the other. "Isn't it awful that they had to put two people in the same grave!" How sad that an honest politician has become an oxymoron like jumbo shrimp.
It's disheartening to hear that people actually choose who they are going to vote for based on appearance. What exactly does it mean to look presidential? Today, image is far more important than integrity, and competence takes precedence over character. What does God think of this?
Our key verse is 1 Samuel 16:7: "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance (i.e., image), but the LORD looks at the heart (i.e., integrity).'" God is searching for men and women of integrity who He can use for the advancement of His kingdom and glory.
We should define our terms. Image is who people think you are. Integrity is who you really are. These may or may not be the same. Image is about the outward appearance; its focus is external. Integrity is about the heart; its focus is internal. Integrity is who we are in the dark, as D.L. Moody said. Consider five observations.
First, image results in rejection by God; integrity results in acceptance by God. Billy Graham once said, "Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost." King Saul was a man whose life came apart at the seams, due to a forfeiture of integrity. He disobeyed God's command to "totally destroy everything" (1 Sam. 15:1-10), and, as a result the LORD rejected him as king over Israel (vs. 26).
Was Saul a competent king? Yes, he just won a major war, brought back plunder (sheep, cattle, fat calves, and lambs—they should have been killed), which in turn would cause the economy and morale of the Israelites to thrive (1 Sam. 15:7-9). If CNN had been filming this, everybody would have seen the thrill of victory. But CNN would have missed the real story—God in heaven grieved that He made Saul king, not for a lack of competence, but for a lack of character (vv. 10-11). Saul compromised God's original command to "totally destroy everything," so he was rejected. Conversely, since David was a man of integrity, God accepted and anointed him as the next king (v. 28).
Second, image is characterized by pride; integrity is characterized by humility. While God is grieving, and Samuel is troubled and crying out to the LORD all night, what is Saul doing? Making plans for the erection of a monument in his own honor (vs. 12). God's thinking, "This is a grievous day." Saul's thinking, "This is a great day. Let's build a monument to honor the king, lest anyone forget his triumphant victory." What nauseating arrogance! Later, when David fought the Philistine giant, Goliath, he gave God all the glory (1 Sam. 17:47). Image is concerned with honoring self; integrity is concerned with honoring God.
Third, image fears people; integrity fears God. After being sternly rebuked by Samuel, Saul finally admitted: "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them" (1 Sam. 15:24). Image looks around and asks, "What will the people think?" But it fails to look up and ask, "What will God think?" Potiphar's wife propositioned Joseph, but he refused to even be with her, because he feared God (Gen. 39:1-10).
Fourth, image results in the Spirit departing; integrity results in the Spirit empowering.1 Samuel 16:13-14: "So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David] in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power… Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul." The Spirit dwells very comfortably with a man of integrity. He is not hindered from working mightily in his life. The real question is, "What can the Spirit do through us because of our character?" and not, "What are we competent to achieve on our own?" CNN will not ask this question, but we must.
Finally, realize that integrity is not just the fruit of major decisions we occasionally make. Of course, major decisions will reveal our integrity more clearly than minor ones, but every single day you and I make many "insignificant" decisions that will either build or erode our integrity and usefulness to God.
Copyright 2025,
Copyright 2025, By Every Word Foundation