Integrity is mentioned several  times throughout Scripture but not “character.”

Character has been defined as one’s total personality.  A sum of qualities by which a person is distinguished. Character is simply doing right by habit, but integrity is more than that, and more important than character.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?  and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”     Job 2:3

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?  curse God, and die.”   Job 2:9

“Said he not unto me, She is my sister?  and she, even she herself said, He is my brother:  in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.  And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart;  for I also withheld thee from sinning against Me:  therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.  Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live:  and if you restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.”   Genesis 20: 5-7

Integrity is mentioned sixteen times in Scripture and is one of the most important words therein.  Integrity defined is moral soundness, uprightness, unbrokeness  Integrity is character that cannot be changed or polluted.

“He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord:  but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth Him.”   Proverbs 14:2

“I will praise Thee with uprightness of heaart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments.”   Psalms 119:7

“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me;  for I wait on Thee.”    Psalms 25:21

“My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart:  and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.”
Job 33:3

There is a  difference between integrity and character.  Integrity is character in the heart.  Each spiritual problem is a heart problem.  Integrity is doing what is right at all times.

When we speak of steel as having integrity, we are speaking of steel that is sound, unpolluted, and the same term applies to integrity.  Integrity is making the resolve to do what is right no matter the cost.  It is doing right because it is right.

“And if thou wilt walk before Me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep My statutes and My judgments:  . . . ”
I Kings 9:4

When friends want us to do wrong.  I will do right
If I have to stand alone.  I will do right.
If it costs me money.  I will do right.
If others get angry.  I will do right.
If it costs me my family.  I will do right.
If it costs me my worldly possessions.  I will do right.
If I lose my job.  I will do right.
If I lose an important position at work.  I will do right.

Regardless of who is for us or against us, we must always do that which is right before Him……and that is called Integrity.  Integrity is resolve in the face of ALL opposition.  Period.  Integrity means doing right every time, no matter the cost, even when our friends and family walk away.

“Wisdom is knowing the right path to take.
Integrity is taking it.”

Eileen Light