Guidance
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8:3
“The integrity of the upright guides them…”
A lot has been written and said about God’s will, much of it helpful. When it comes to deciding on what kind of car to buy, whether or not to accept a job offer, or what color to paint the house, knowing God’s will isn’t always clear-cut. But that lack of clarity in some areas isn’t an excuse to pretend God’s will is a mysterious unknown in all areas of life. His will is clear where it counts most. There aren’t any eternally important issues at stake when it comes to whether you buy a Chevy or a Ford. Frankly, God probably doesn’t care.
What about the choices we make that have moral implications? The wisdom of Proverbs says the upright are guided by integrity. Some people make their decisions based on what is right because they have personal integrity. They are guided by what’s right. They don’t have to struggle with trying to figure out whether something is God’s will or not when it comes to questions of integrity.
A while back I made a purchase at a local store. After paying and receiving back my change I left, but something didn’t seem right. So, when I got to my truck I recalculated and realized the clerk had given me too much money back. I went back in with my receipt and the money. When I approached the register I could tell she was anticipating a claim that I had been shorted. She looked taken aback when I explained that I was giving her money back and why. She said, “I’m surprised you would do that.” I responded, “My integrity is worth more to me than a couple of dollars.” At that moment I was guided by integrity. The upright lives that way.