By Bryan D. Gill, D.Min.
Director of the Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation, Samford University
INTEGRITY
1 Peter 3:8–17
Over the last several weeks, we have been looking at Christian character traits. 1 Peter 2:12 reminds us, “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day He visits.”
The goal for exhibiting these character traits is not for us to be glorified for being a good person but for others to see our good works and glorify God. Living these traits points to a life that is focused on God and one that shows evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts.
This week’s lesson focuses on integrity.
Integrity can mean several things, such as the strength of a type of building material or the dependability of a product.
For our purposes, we are referring to integrity as living a life of holiness that withstands scrutiny. To do this, we will look at Peter’s instructions for those suffering for doing good.
A life of integrity pursues goodness and righteousness. (8–12)
When Christ transforms us, our actions change.
Our thoughts are different and as a result, the way we treat people changes.
Our natural self was full of evil and deceit.
But God, living in our hearts, transforms our old ways and allows us to be defined as good and righteous.
A life lived with integrity will be defined by good, not evil; peace, not destruction; righteousness, not deception.
A life of integrity is centered in the lordship of Christ. (13–15)
If our goal is to live a life that reflects the character of Christ, we are free to do what is good and right.
We tend to slip into old habits and wicked ways when we try to please others rather than Jesus.
When we aim to please other people, we do so out of a fear that they will not accept us. When we aim to please Jesus, we do so out of love toward our Savior. Rather than fear, we are to live under the lordship of Christ.
In Romans 8:31, Paul says, “If God is for us, who is against us?” If our goal is to please the Lord by living a life of integrity, our lives will glorify God even in the face of persecution.
A life of integrity maintains conduct that withstands any scrutiny or criticism. (16–17)
The last part of our passage for this week says, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” I’ve often thought about this verse, and recently it became clear as to what it means.
We live in a time when doing the right thing is not always rewarded. The world seems upside-down,
and there is no absolute right or wrong.
However, as Christians we aim to please God, not others.
And to God, there is a right and wrong. There may be times when we will have to suffer for our actions.
Peter is encouraging us here by saying that if you are going to have to suffer, let it be because you’re accused of doing good rather than evil. Living a life of integrity is to, as Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung penned in the early 1900s, “Do the next right thing.”
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