Proverbs 11
Teaching our children to have Integrity
What it is?
- It is honesty v. 1
- The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that one refuses to change (Cambridge Online Dictionary)
- Think of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife
- Think of Daniel and his three friends in Daniel 1
- And again in Daniel 3 when they wouldn’t bow to the false god
- And again in Daniel 6 when Daniel prayed even though it meant death
- This was an old command reiterated by Solomon
- Deuteronomy 25:12-14
- Proverbs 16:11 and 20:10
- It was a sin addressed by Hosea in 12:7
- We must teach our children to always be honest
- For us, this was a spanking matter
- Matthew Henry says “He is not an honest man that is not devout; he is not a godly man that is not honest.”
- Dishonest business dealings are offensive to God
- Nothing is more pleasing to God than fair and honest dealing
- It models who God is
- He will do right every single time . . .
- It is humility v. 2
- Notice that it is the opposite of pride
- Nebuchanezzar was severely judged by God for his pride
- Herod was as well.
- Notice that it is blessed by God
- Humility leads us to wisdom
- It is uprightness v. 3
- The word means correct; right; straight
- Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
- It is righteousness. v. 4-6
Why it matters?
- It guides us v. 3
- It makes a difference in death v. 4
- A good conscience makes the end of ones life easier
- It leads us to righteousness
- It counsels us
- It makes us gracious
- It makes us generous
- It brings life v. 30
- It bypasses judgment v. 32
How do you get it?
- You train it
- Proverbs 20:11
- A child either has it or doesn’t
- Verse 5
- When they get it and mature - it directs their way
- Perfect = complete or mature or whole
- You pursue it
- We often have opportunity to pursue integrity . . .
- You live it
- It shows up in how we treat people
- In how we run our business