The Pay Off
“He who walks in integrity walks securely” (Proverbs 10:9)
For God’s man, the payoff is a confident, secure walk with God. With undivided loyalty, his choices are clear. With no duplicity, he has no hangovers of character. When he’s away on business, he is the same person as he is at home. He is the same man on Friday and Saturday night as he is on Sunday mornings. He’s a father who says what he does and does what he says. He is a husband his wife can trust and follow.
God’s man has moved beyond the payoff of instant gratification. Imagine it! Feeling good is replaced with feeling right about yourself. When you feel right about yourself, no matter what your circumstances or your mood, you are content and connected to God, your family, and your purpose as God’s man. Now that’s security without stress.
Our wise King also pointed out that the “integrity of the upright guides them” (Proverbs 11:3). We see this as meaning that if you are not divided inwardly in your heart or character, the voices representing competing loyalties will be muted. Instead, your spiritual focus will work to provide clear direction and guidance. Your intuition will be guided by your spiritual commitments to the point where good decision making becomes second nature.
I once struggled so hard to make good choices that God never intended to be difficult, like my wife comes first, spending time with the family, making an appointment with God every day, putting boundaries on alcohol, sharing God’s love with those he sends my way, and in general following the leading of the Holy Spirit. What I discovered is that an undivided heart will build a spine. We must have more than an undivided heart. We must also have a spine.
Thank you Father for showing me the payoffs of confidence, self-respect and the many blessings along the way. You are awesome!