Integrity VS Compromise
In today’s world, the words right, wrong, good, evil, perception, and points of view gauge how people come to conclusions to defend their actions. Decisions based on thought reveal why we do what we do, whether we admit it or not. What we think and entertain in our minds is eventually what we carry out in our actions. Our actions result from our decisions that originate from our thoughts.
This makes me think of several scriptures that talk about the mind.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8
“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” Mark 7:21-23
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
Some things we do often and naturally. We give it no thought, and it comes automatically. Although even in those actions we would do well to ‘give it some thought.’ It is the nature of man to deviate from doing what is right if the goal post is moving and society removes absolutes.
Even though the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness, the systems are currently in the hands of the enemy. We live our lives daily within the systems of this world. The family, government, church, entertainment, arts, business, and education systems operate the way the people at the top of these systems say they will operate. And you and I don’t often question those people or the systems. We should. We should gauge their way of doing things according to God and His Word. He set His ways and His will before us as a light to walk out this life, no matter what lay before us.
Over the years, I have observed that people are prone to compromise and voice disdain in going against the status quo. What everyone else is doing must be right, so I will do it too. Or you have the trendsetters. Those people who refuse to do what they are told and etch out a path, calling it ‘ I will do it my way.’ Both of these paths go against what God’s Word teaches and emerge as a compromise. Both are rebellion. Whether we realize it or not, we are agreeing with the enemy and allowing a demonic force to control our thinking.
Compromise leads to wrong thinking. Wrong thinking leads to wrong actions. Wrong actions produce sin. Sin leads to death. The overall result is deception of the mind. What we think about.
To overcome this, one must believe in their heart and mind that there is only one truth. His name is Jesus.
Integrity leads to the truth. The truth of God’s word leads to right thinking. Right thinking leads to godly actions. Godly actions lead to freedom. Freedom in Christ leads to life eternal, now and forever.
Finally, in Jeremiah 6:16, we read about the path that was laid out before the foundations of the world. “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
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Till next time, spend some time with the Father. Remember, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
Dr. Michele
