Integrity affects our characters and the confidence of the people around us

In early 2006 I had the privilege to work alongside a pastor who was a well-seasoned statesman. The tip of the iceberg of this gentleman's character and competence was his exemplary integrity. He went to great lengths to protect his integrity, preferring inconvenience over compromise.

He shared the tale of one occasion when he stopped along the interstate for a woman from his church who was alone with a broken-down car. These were the days before cell phones when the issue of a nonfunctioning car required much more thought and negotiation to resolve. Rather than take her to her destination, he offered her his car and vowed to wait with her vehicle until she returned with assistance. After much debate, the woman finally relented and took his car. Her concession came when he graciously explained that he believed that as a pastor it would be inappropriate for him to be seen in a car alone in the middle of the day with a woman other than his wife.

He understood human nature and the power of unsolicited gossip more than most. He also understood that a reputation takes a lifetime to build and a moment of even false accusation to destroy.

In January 2007 this friend was diagnosed with leukemia. He and his medical team waged war against this deadly disease. December 2007 brought an end to the battle. During his funeral, friends and family spoke of how much he had meant to them. Colleagues spoke of his tremendous accomplishments during his pastoral career. What came across the strongest was how securely he walked because of his integrity. His walk was so solid that it caused those around him to walk with great security.

What we do and how we do it, what we say and how we say it does not just affect us but those around us. Proverbs 10:9 reads, "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely ...". Those with integrity can walk securely because they own their conversations and actions. They walk securely for those around them who trust them. God, honoring integrity, demands that we are exactly who we say we are even when no one is looking. That type of integrity is security in an insecure world.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father and serves as the associate pastor at the First Baptist Church in Jackson.