The Christian Girl Chat

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the story of the Three Little Pigs. One built a house of straw, the second used sticks, and the third constructed his house with bricks. When the Big Bad Wolf came, he easily blew down the houses made of straw and sticks. Why? Because those materials are flexible, weak, and easily broken. But the house of bricks stood firm—it had integrity. The bricks were solid, and there were no cracks in the structure.

The idea of integrity is one we often hear about, but what does it actually mean for us as members of society?

In one of my previous jobs, integrity was a core value of the company. People were generally considered to have integrity if they were honest and hardworking. But over time, I’ve come to realize that integrity is so much more than just being honest or putting in effort.

Most of us have probably heard the definition of integrity as “doing the right thing when no one’s watching.” While that’s a good starting point, I believe real integrity goes deeper—it means living in a way that aligns with your beliefs, consistently and without compromise.

In a sermon by Pastor Craig Groeschel (A Matter of Integrity), he shared a thought-provoking insight: the word integrity comes from the Latin integritatem, meaning “soundness,” “wholeness,” or “completeness.” This is also where we get the word integer—a whole number, not a fraction or decimal. In the same way, a person of integrity is whole, not divided or inconsistent. They are the same in every setting, not changing their character based on the environment or company.

That understanding changed how I see integrity. If it means consistently living according to what I believe, then its opposite is hypocrisy—claiming to believe one thing, pointing out flaws in others, but failing to live by those same standards ourselves. Integrity requires us to stand firm in our beliefs, no matter the cost.

Of course, even when we strive to live with integrity and please God, we will fall short. So how do we identify the areas in our lives where integrity is lacking?

We often lack integrity where we:

• Feel most defensive
• Keep secrets
• Are quick to criticize others

These are usually the places where we feel insecure—areas that don’t align with what we say we believe as Christians. When we identify these cracks in our foundation, the best step forward is to confess them to someone wise and trustworthy, someone who can help hold us accountable. Because we do want to live lives of integrity. Though we will stumble, the goal is to become more and more like Jesus Christ every day.

I encourage you to take some time and reflect: Where are the cracks in your foundation? In what areas can you invite Jesus in to bring transformation?

Here are some verses to guide and encourage you in pursuing a life of integrity (NKJV):

• The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall. He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known. ~ Proverbs 10:8–9
• Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. ~ Proverbs 28:6
• The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. ~ Proverbs 11:5–6
• Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. ~ Proverbs 19:1
• Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. ~ Psalm 15
• By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me. As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. ~ Psalm 41:11–12
• Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. ~ James 4:17
• He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. ~ Luke 16:10
• Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” ~ Job 2:3
• “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ~ Matthew 23:25–28

Build your life on something strong—just like the third little pig did with bricks. Build your life on the Rock that is Jesus Christ.