Introductory Thoughts
Simply for being a man of integrity, Job suffered greatly. No matter what obstacles Job was forced to overcome, he would not relinquish his integrity. In the midst of Satan’s attacks, the Lord commended Job for his integrity when He said that Job “holdeth fast his integrity” (Job 2:3). When Job’s wife verbally joined in the attacks, she pressured him to relinquish his integrity. Job wisely responded to her by saying, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.” Job was not willing to relinquish his integrity. There are things men consider important in life, but few realize the paramount importance of maintaining one’s integrity. The Bible repeatedly stresses the importance of integrity: “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1). This passage illustrates that the most important things in life cannot be purchased with money, nor can they be lost due to the absence of wealth.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego would not bow down to the king's idol even if it meant their death in the fiery furnace. Daniel refused to stop praying to the living God even though it meant he would be thrown into a den of lions. When troubles come, we too should be willing to live for God no matter the cost.
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(For everyone): What are the most important things to you in this life? How much time do you have invested in acquiring things? How much time are you spending on things that have little to no eternal value?
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Do you think that many people today would handle the pressure put upon Job by someone he loved dearly? Would you have refused to quit and fought hard to retain your integrity? Does your walk with the Lord falter in times of trial?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask the Lord to give you a longing to protect your integrity.
- Ask God to help you do right, even in times of great testing.
Song
I Am Resolved
