Living a Life of Integrity in an Ungodly Culture
“The blessing of our integrity will outlive us and guide others in the right path long after we are dancing on streets of gold. The impact and influence are eternal.” - Dr. Russ Frase, Fight for integrity
Daniel 6:1-3 (ESV)
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”
Living a Life of Integrity in an Ungodly Culture
1. Integrity positions you for an increase of influence.
“Because an excellent spirit was in him.”
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.”
2. Integrity positions you to be attacked by an ungodly culture.
Daniel 6:4a (NIV)
“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs.”
John 15:18-20 (NIV)
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
Daniel 6:4b (NIV)
“They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”
3. Integrity can cause evil men and women to try to entrap you.
Daniel 6:5-9 (NIV)
“Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: ‘May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.’ So King Darius put the decree in writing.”
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
4. A life of integrity remains faithful to God no matter what.
Daniel 6:10-12 (NIV)
“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: ‘Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?’”
1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV)
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
Steps to help you live a life of integrity:
1. Be brutally honest about your current status of integrity.
2. Take full responsibility for the areas you lack integrity.
3. Remember, integrity is impossible without a life anchored to God and His Word.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”