Our Values: 3rd Part

By: Bruno Molina, Executive Director of the HBN

2 months ago, I began to explain the significance and impact of our values es expressed through the acrostic C.H.R.I.S.T. The C stands for clear communication and the R for respect. Since in Spanish the word is C.R.I.S.T.O., I now continue on to “I” signifying “Integrity.”

In a world where compromise often passes for wisdom and shadows mask true motives; integrity stands. as a beacon of a divine standard. Derived from the concept of wholeness, completeness, and undivided character, integrity is not merely a human virtue, it is the outward reflection of a heart aligned with the character of God. Scripturally, to walk in integrity is to walk with a unified soul, where inner faith and outer conduct resonate in perfect harmony.

The Scriptures declare that God delights in truth within the innermost being (Psalm 51:6). Integrity is the refusal to live a divided life, choosing instead to let one's private reality match their public profession: "The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of a treacherous person will destroy them"

(Proverbs 11:3).

When our principles are grounded in God's eternal truth, integrity serves as an internal compass, protecting us from the ruinous paths of deceit and double mindedness.

To live with integrity is to walk without fear of exposure. Integrity creates a fortress around the human spirit, yielding confidence, peace, and divine safeguarding amidst life's pressures: "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be revealed (Proverbs 10:9); "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity" (Proverbs 2:7).

God’s standards of integrity extend to every aspect of daily conduct, business, and speech. Righteousness is revealed in small, unseen choices just as much as in heroic acts: "A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights of the bag are His concern"; (Proverbs 16:11).

Integrity transcends the life of the individual; it builds an enduring foundation for future generations. A life lived with wholehearted devotion creates a path of blessing for children and communities alike: "A righteous person who walks in his integrity—how blessed are his sons after him!" (Proverbs 20:7).

To choose integrity is to choose the path of enduring strength, honor, and fellowship with God. May we pray with the Psalmist: "Let integrity and uprightness protect me, for I wait for You" (Psalm 25:21) letting our whole lives shine as light in the darkness.