Wholeness = Integrity

“They were using this question as a trap,

in order to have a basis for accusing him.”
John 8:6

The story of the woman caught in adultery is one of the more popular stories in the Bible.  Adultery is clearly wrong; but it irks me somewhat that I never really hear people mention the fact that she’s also a victim.  When I say “victim” I don’t mean that she’s innocent.  I mean that she was used poorly by wicked people.

The Pharisees really didn’t care about her adultery.  She was being used as ammunition against Jesus Christ.  Even though she was made to stand in front of everyone, in some ways, she’s invisible.  She’s not a real human being, she’s become weapon that the Pharisees use against Jesus.  They needed an excuse to launch an attack against Jesus, and she was it.

Beware of entrapment.  The person that encourages us to gossip with them will not only gossip about us, but they will also publicly accuse us of gossiping, if only to deflect attention away from themselves.  The person who encourages us to engage in illegal activity will also testify against us in court, if they can get a better deal for themselves.  Don’t listen to the person who encourages you to dress casually to work and violate the dress code.   They might be doing it so that, when the boss reprimands them about their dress, they can use you as an example and say, “Look at how she dresses!  You let her get away with it!”

The people who encourage us to do wrong may tell us that they’ll be loyal to us.  They’ll say they’ve “got your back”.  People who have your back will tell you to do the right thing, even though it may be the harder thing to do at the time.  Also, no one should urge you to do wrong as a test of your loyalty to them.  Don’t listen to, “If you love me, you’d do it.”  Ignore, “If you were my real friend, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Integrity is my word of wisdom for today.  Integrity means being of high moral character, or upright.  Several years ago, my pastor gave a sermon and said that people of integrity are whole people, the way that an integer is a whole number.  I like that definition the most.  My thinking is that if feel lacking in anything, then we’re more likely to fall into temptation to do something wrong.  When we’re not whole, we’re more likely to use other people to accomplish your ends.  I always feel a lack whenever I forget that God promised he would never leave or forsake me; and that he knows and will supply all my needs.  Let’s all remember the promises of God, so that we can be people of integrity.

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.”

1 John 1:7