Job 4:3 – 8 (here @ Bible Gateway), is an accurate description of many people. In this case, it was not. Eliphaz was declared incorrect by a fairly reliable source, God.
The passage, however, got me thinking about some of our responsibilities as believers. The thinking took me to 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (here @ Bible Gateway) and Psalm 139:23 – 24 (here @ Bible Gateway).
Two things filtered out of this exercise. The fact that someone has invested in ministry or has had an impact on people’s lives does not guarantee that people will, carte blanche, consider that the person has integrity. Nor, does it mean that the one who has had this impact actually has integrity.
We have to continually come before the Lord to be searched and prodded by Him. Our hearts are to be concerned with what He thinks about us. We are not to consider other peoples’ opinion over His. Thus if He validates our integrity while others question it, we rest in His evaluation.
However, if we are considered one of integrity by the masses, and He points out that we fall short in that area, we have work to do, things to change.
It is His evaluation that matters. We have to continually come before Him, the word abide comes to mind, so that we can walk in integrity through His strength.
Two things filtered out of this exercise. The fact that someone has invested in ministry or has had an impact on people’s lives does not guarantee that people will, carte blanche, consider that the person has integrity. Nor, does it mean that the one who has had this impact actually has integrity.
We have to continually come before the Lord to be searched and prodded by Him. Our hearts are to be concerned with what He thinks about us. We are not to consider other peoples’ opinion over His. Thus if He validates our integrity while others question it, we rest in His evaluation.
However, if we are considered one of integrity by the masses, and He points out that we fall short in that area, we have work to do, things to change.
It is His evaluation that matters. We have to continually come before Him, the word abide comes to mind, so that we can walk in integrity through His strength.
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