Character and integrity are important to Christianity and moral living because the character of a person determines the outcome of the person’s life. What a person does is what they have embedded in the person for a long period. The small actions he or she engages in give birth to behavior. This is from the week’s lesson that shares how a character comes into being. The way the person behaves when constantly repeated begets character. In Proverbs 23:7 we are told that as a man thinks so is he. The outcome or destiny we find ourselves in is because of how we think, and continuously live and this defines who we are or turn to.
We are told that when we rehearse something continuously; it becomes part of our daily lives. Paul wrote to the Romans, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). So when we live with integrity, our minds will focus on morally acceptable things of this world and it will assure us of an eternity that is peaceful and with God. When we are of excellent character, we are already creating our eternity in heaven; in 1 Cor 6:9, Paul tells us that not unrighteous will inherit the kingdom of God.
A person of integrity and excellent character will be in a favorable position and be honored by men and God. Since integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, a person who poses it will have doors open to him and opportunities streaming his way. In Nehemiah 7:2, Hanani – Hananiah is appointed governor because of what Nehemiah observes that he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. Daniel’s character earned him a place in the king’s palace. He was a man with an excellent spirit and no fault was in him. In Daniel 6:4, the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. This is a clear indication of integrity and good character. It led to the promotion of Daniel.
When we are of good character and integrity, we will please God. In Colossians 3:20 Pauls urges kids to obey their parents, for this pleases God. Romans 14:17-18 tells us what God desires is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. God not only gets pleased with those who have good character, but He rewards them. “The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness” (1 Samuel 26:23a). So, character and integrity are virtues that bring with them lots of benefits and those who strive to cultivate them are fighting the good fight like Paul encourages Timothy to do in 1 Timothy 6:12. He concludes his message as he reaches the end of his life and declares that as for him, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). This, for me, sums up the ways whereby character and integrity are important to Christianity and to moral living.
