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This sermon notes below are by Pastor Scott Harris’ son, David. Please note that this an outline of his thoughts and not a transcript. View the sermon on our YouTube Channel for what he actually says.
David Harris
June 11, 2023
“Better is a Poor Man”
Biblical Integrity and What it Looks Like
Greetings from Tennessee!
- Good tidings from the refugee community
- Getting involved in church
- Cultural differences
- Should I move?
- Missing NY (delis, pizza, GBC, the land, etc.)
Pall Mall, Tennessee
From the first week I moved to Tennessee I was super excited to be able to visit Pall Mall, Tennessee, about two hours from us in Maryville. How many of you have seen the film Sgt. York? If you’ve seen the film, then you’re familiar with Alvin York, the most famous and most decorated American foot-soldier of WWI. If you haven’t seen the film, rather than scrolling through a streaming app, just make a deliberate decision to sit down and watch all 2 hours and 14 minutes – it’s a movie actually worth your time. I won’t go really deep into his life, but I’ll mention a few things real quick.
For those who might not be familiar, Alvin York was a poor Appalachian farmer who was radically converted to Christianity in 1915 after a wild and sinful youth. In 1917, when his draft number came up for WWI, he was a conscientious objector. After working through his doubts, he decided to go into battle armed and wound up in France a few months later in the midst of the Meuse-Argonne campaign. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor for killing 25 German machine gunners and subsequently capturing 132 enemy soldiers.
When he returned to the United States in 1919, he came back a national hero. He was presented with an endless array of offers from corporations, Hollywood studios, and state and national government. Instead of capitalizing on his newfound fame, York wanted immediately to return to rural Tennessee and dedicate his life to farming, family, and trying to bring education and infrastructure to his area. He was successful in starting a local Bible school where he taught both the Bible and vocational skills to local children.
A few weeks ago, Natasha, Jackie, and I had the opportunity to visit Alvin York’s hometown of Pall Mall, Tennessee. This town is extremely remote – much more remote than I had previously imagined from seeing the movie. There are no highways, interstates, or thruways connecting the town to the outside world, though there are a few winding mountain roads – so it still looks pretty much like it always has. The graveyard where Alvin York is buried is immaculate – meticulously maintained by a small, but grateful local population. Even almost 60 years after Alvin York died in 1964, his presence is still felt in nearly every corner of his remote valley in the Cumberland Mountains. It’s hard to hear an ill word spoken about him.
A Man of Integrity
You can look into Alvin York more if you want, but the reason why I share some of his story with you is that he represents a specific example of what we might call a “man of integrity.” If I asked you to define integrity right this second, you might not be able to give a specific definition, but you could point to someone and say THAT is integrity – that person there!
Because next week is Father’s Day and because you’ve recently been working through the book of Daniel, it’s a great time to reflect on what integrity is, what it looks like, who has it, why you should want it, and how you can get it. I’ll say upfront that integrity has most often been defined as a manly quality, while obviously women can and should have integrity as well. In general, though, I’ll be addressing integrity as a manly quality. That being said, for married women – you should earnestly desire for your husband to be a man of integrity. For unmarried women, you should be looking for integrity as one of the main qualities to look for in a future husband. And really for everyone, you want to foster and encourage a character of integrity in your fellow believers. So whoever you are, this message is for you! This won’t be a theologically deep message – I’m trying to remind myself and the rest of you of basic truths that need to we all need to take heart. Let’s begin with:
Defining Integrity
Let’s spend a few moments talking about words and etymology. One of my favorite parts of Bible study is looking into individual words and seeing how they’re translated from Greek or Hebrew into English, and then looking at how that word developed into the word we use today. One of the great benefits of living in this day and age is that doing a word study is quick and easy, and anyone can do it in a few minutes just using a browser. There’s a lot of benefit to word studies because understanding the proper meaning of a word or text of scripture can have a direct effect on our beliefs and behavior. The word integrity is a great example of this. Let’s take a look at what the word “integrity” really means and some places in our English Bible that use it.
Integrity – The English Word
The word that is translated as “integrity” in the Bible in English comes from Latin by way of French – so integritatem in Latin becomes integrite in French, and finally integrity in English. The latin word integritatem is derived from “integer,” which you might remember from math class means “whole number.” So the idea of integritatem is “wholeness, completeness, purity, soundness.” If you look up in a thesaurus the word, “integrity,” you’ll find the synonyms “honesty, sobriety, principle, virtue, sincerity, and purity.”
The Hebrew word translated as “integrity” in the Old Testament is tom, and it conveys a similar meaning to the Latin word integritatem. It is a noun derived from the verb, tamam, the verb that means to complete or finish something. While this will depend somewhat on what translation of the Bible you’re reading, you won’t find the word “integrity” in the New Testament barely at all. If you use the NIV then you’ll see integrity in – Titus 2:7 – Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
The word used here is aphtharsia, which is translated in other places in the New Testament as “incorruptible” or “imperishable.” A closer word to the idea of tom in the New Testament is probably holokléria, which means “whole” or “complete.”
Here are a few examples of where all three of these words are used in the Bible, mostly in the Old Testament.
Integrity – Old Testament
Job 2:3 – And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”
Job 2:9 – Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
Job 27:5 – Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
Job 31:6 – (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)
Genesis 20:5 – Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
Psalm 25:21 – May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Psalm 26:1 – Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Proverbs 20:7 – The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!
Proverbs 28:6 – Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Integrity – New Testament
Titus 2:7 – Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Acts 3:16 – And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Another passage that articulates the idea of the Old Testament word for integrity, tom, is 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
So What is Integrity?
In today’s English, we really have two meanings for integrity. If you look up the word in a dictionary, you’ll see two definitions: 1) “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” 2) the state of being whole and undivided.
We typically use the first definition for talking about people and the second for talking about mechanics, construction, or physical characteristics, i.e., does the building have “structural integrity.” When we’re talking about a person having integrity, we’re really saying that they’re an undivided, whole, complete, consistent person. So if you desire integrity, you desire to be solid and together rather than fractured and falling apart.
Why Should You Desire Integrity?
We’re going try something very generation specific here: I’m going to say half of a movie quote and see if anyone finishes it: “We thought we could be decent men – “
We live in a time and place where integrity is increasingly rare – the societal fracturing we live in the midst of affects us, and we find ourselves fracturing as well. This is why we must strive for integrity. A man of integrity stands firm and on both feet as those around him slink to their knees and fall on their face from the pressure of the world.
There are many reasons to strive for integrity. If you’re a Christian, then you want to honor God with your life by obeying His commands. Consistency of character is found by practicing the Fruit of the Spirit listed out in Galatians 5.
How Do You Become a Man of Integrity?
The Bible gives us the roadmap that will lead us to achieving and possessing integrity. We’ll look at some biblical examples of people who had a lot of integrity, but let’s look real quick at a few passages of scripture that explain how they got that way.
Psalm 119:9 – How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
So tying oneself to the Bible and making it the center of life and faith is crucial to purity, which is a crucial part of integrity.
Proverbs 4:25-27 – Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Another component of integrity is keeping your gaze ahead and not being turned aside by the things that would distract you from your goal. A similar idea is found in Hebrews 12:1:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
From the parable of the dishonest manager, we see that part of integrity is being faithful in the small things.
While obviously, not every man in the church is an elder, the qualifications of eldership are worth striving for because they lay out a picture of what a man of integrity looks like:
Titus 1:6-9 – if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
The deacon qualifications in 1 Timothy and the elder qualifications here in Titus both provide clear, explicit qualities of a man of integrity to the point that he is selected for a particular service within the church. These qualities are worth aspiring to and it’s worth it for wives, children, and the church at large to help foster them in the congregation.
What Integrity Looks Like – Biblical Examples
Let’s spend some time looking at some especially good examples of integrity given to us in the pages of Scripture. I’ve chosen several men in the Bible who stand out in not only that they had integrity, but they maintained it. One thing that you’ll notice is that those whose integrity really stands out are usually those who are in situations that test them to the limits of endurance.
Job – Integrity in Agony
A good number of the verses in the Old Testament that mention integrity are in the book of Job. He represents one of the most dramatic examples of integrity in the Bible. Even after he had lost his earthly wealth, his children, his health, and “his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die,’” he won’t let it go. While he makes his complaint known, he refuses to despair to the point of becoming defiant towards God. One of the great questions that the book of Job addresses is how a righteous man, a man of integrity, suffers. Job gives us a clear picture of what it looks like for a man of integrity to suffer.
Joseph – Integrity Among the Egyptians
More than most, Joseph’s story is often used to highlight the extent that God will use a man who is simply faithful to Him in all that he does. Joseph is a great example because he maintains his integrity in a variety of difficult, frustrating, and perplexing situations. His life begins in great privilege – being the most loved son of a wealthy man. But when his brothers betray him and sell him into slavery in Egypt, he demonstrates himself to have so much integrity even as a slave that he rises in the ranks to the top of Potiphar’s house.
The same integrity that caused Joseph’s rise also caused his being thrown into prison for fleeing Potiphar’s wife when she tried to commit adultery with him. We could hardly blame Joseph if he fractured and broke apart while rotting in an Egyptian prison, but he doesn’t. He maintains his integrity and is promoted to being in charge of all the other prisoners. The same integrity then propels him to being 2nd in command of all of Egypt when he interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and gives a solution for the coming famine. We see his integrity continue when he forgives his brothers rather than seeking revenge. Joseph’s integrity seems to be life-long. It’s something that is inseparable from his overall character and marks him as a righteous man.
Joshua – Integrity in Command
Another Old Testament example comes in the courageous, intrepid integrity of Joshua. His integrity is demonstrated first through his great faith. In the Book of Numbers, when the spies are sent in to scope out Promised Land, you may remember that only Joshua and Caleb are excited and anxious to get into the land of Canaan, conquer the evil nations occupying it, and subdue it for God and children of Israel. Because of their faith in God, they are the only ones in their generation permitted access to the Promised Land when the Israelites do enter. With Joshua in command, not only was the Promised Land taken by the Israelites, but to such an extent that it says in Joshua 21:45 – Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. Joshua is a man of integrity because he has great faith in God – faith that leads to action. He is told 7 times to “be strong and courageous,” and he takes these words to heart. The consistency of his character is such that when he charges Israel to “choose this day whom you will serve,” as long as he is alive, they serve God.
Daniel – Integrity in Exile
One of the most consistent characters in the Bible is Daniel. If you think about the intensely dramatic trajectory of his life, then his integrity is all the more impressive. Torn from the life he knew in Israel at a young age, Daniel’s integrity is challenged very early in life. He is marked by his integrity first by refusing to eat food that would defile him as a Jew. Then there’s the interpretation of the King’s dream, which we heard about last week. When Nebuchadnezzar orders the wise men of Babylon killed because of their failure to tell and interpret his dream, remember that Daniel is calm and collected. He explains the dream and the interpretation and is then propelled to a high rank in the Kingdom, one where he can appoint other men of integrity (Shadrack, Meshak, and Abednego) to prominent positions.
Daniel’s integrity is tested again under the reign of Darius when he refuses to worship him as a god, instead continuing to pray out open windows towards Jerusalem. Again, God blesses him for his integrity by allowing him to survive the lion’s den, and then retain his high position in the Kingdom, where he continued to be not only a righteous influence but also to make some of the most important prophecies in the Bible.
Jesus – Perfected Integrity
Of course, the greatest example of integrity that we aspire to is Jesus. Not only do we have his teachings, his instruction, and his provision of salvation, but we also have His example. Most modern depictions of Jesus are fairly soft and delicate. It’s important to remember that while Jesus was tender with children, compassionate and merciful with sinners, and the meekest among men, he was also a callused-handed construction worker who beat those that defiled the temple with a bullwhip. I only mention this because our current cultural context is one where one of the greatest evils is the expression of masculinity – but Jesus was a man who was able to balance things like meekness with righteous anger, all while maintaining His integrity.
When it comes to the fullest expression of integrity, there’s no better example than the Cross. Philippians 2:5-8 – Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The fullest expression of integrity, as seen in Christ’s example, is self-sacrificial love – putting the needs of others before yourself. If you want to have real, tangible integrity, then it’s crucial to be well-acquainted with Jesus.
Other Examples
All of the biblical examples I’ve previously mentioned except Jesus were able to live out their whole lives while maintaining integrity but for many, the cost of integrity is their lives. As Hebrews 11 says (starting in verse 32), And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,1 they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Stephen is another particularly good New Testament example of one who by maintaining his integrity – by holding firm to the truth, came at the cost of his life. Integrity can be costly, yet the rewards far outweigh the costs. We lived for many years in a society where maintaining integrity was more about not becoming derailed by sin or bad doctrine. We’ve transitioned into a society where holding to the basic truths of the Bible is becoming increasingly more perilous – being a man of integrity doesn’t look the same in every context – sometimes it means you’re the pillar of your nation or community, other times it means you’re the enemy.
Reminding Yourself to Aspire to Integrity
In addition to biblical examples, we also have the 2000+ years of church history – the annals of this time period provide examples of Christians who were marked by their integrity their whole lives, Christians who squandered theirs, and Christians who sacrificed everything just to maintain their integrity.
Above my desk, I have two pictures on the wall. One is this picture (SLIDE 5). It’s gonna sound way over the top, but this is what a number of eyewitness accounts maintain was General Charles Gordon’s last moment on earth. Charles Gordon was a British General with an illustrious military career that often involved overcoming incredible, insurmountable odds. In the late 1880s, an Islamic jihadist called “The Mahdi” embarked on a military campaign in Sudan and managed to defeat a joint Egyptian/British army in the Sahara desert. His goal was world domination, but he first had to conquer the Sudanese capital of Khartoum – a city that’s engulfed in civil war as we sit here this morning. The British government requested that Gordon travel to Khartoum to shore up defenses and prevent the Mahdi from taking over, as Gordon had been active in Sudan years earlier fighting to end the slave trade in North Africa. Unfortunately, Gordon wasn’t given the resources he needed to do so. Gordon was a devout Christian and a public hero in England. When Gordon arrived in Khartoum, he and the rest of Khartoum were cut off from the outside world when the forces of the Mahdi laid siege to Khartoum. A public outcry across England forced the British government into action – an expeditionary force was sent across Egypt and Sudan – they arrived too late. After directing the defense of the city for several months, the walls were finally breached using the captured British weapons. The scene that lives in memoriam is Gordon’s calm walk down the stairs of an inner courtyard before being skewered by spears. He knew early on that there was a good chance he would die in Khartoum, but he believed that it was the right thing to do, and that it was what God wanted him to do. I have his picture right in front of me because I want to be constantly reminded to aspire to something higher than the desires of my own flesh – I want integrity.
Conclusion
While I was working on this message and being reminded of different biblical figures. I was reminded of how much I want to be a man of integrity. Now that I have a daughter, I think about what my legacy is going to be one day when she sifts through whatever I’ve left behind. I’m not anywhere near where I want to be, but the more time I spend with the likes of Job, Joseph, Joshua, Daniel, Jesus, obviously, and for that matter, Alvin York, and Charles Gordon, the more I’m influenced by their examples.
If you don’t know Christ, then you don’t know the truest and best example of integrity there’s ever been. If you want to be able to stand when all around you are collapsing, then placing your faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of eternal life is the first step. Know Christ, and he will be the one to hold you up through the storms of life.
Let’s pray.
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