“Thought for Today: “Integrity Isn’t Determined by Circumstances”

Even though our upbringing and the circumstances we face in this life affect us, we still have the power to choose either good or evil. Two people can grow up in the same environment, even in the same household, but turn out completely different. One may have integrity, while the other may not. Take for instance the high priest Eli’s two sons and Samuel. They all grew up in the tabernacle under Eli’s tutelage. Samuel grew up to be a man of integrity, while Eli’s two sons were corrupt.

“But the child (Samuel) ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.” (1 Samuel 2:11b-12)

If circumstances really could determine our ability to be a person of integrity, Joseph would be the classic example to follow.

Circumstances weren’t kind to Joseph as he was sold by his brothers into slavery, lied about by Potiphar’s wife, and thrown into prison and forgotten by a top official in Pharaoh’s court. Yet he never allowed the negative circumstances he encountered to dictate his actions, rather he kept his integrity through it all.

Get Ready for this Sunday Morning and how a Christian’s Heart is a heart of integrity.