Common Sense Integrity-Don't Leave Home Without "Em

Proverbs 2:7
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.


In the above scripture we are told that if we are honest, God will give us common sense. And we are also told that God is a "Shield to those who walk with integrity." So, obviously, we need to find out what these attributes really mean.

COMMON SENSE:
: sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts

INTEGRITY:
: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility

: an unimpaired condition : soundness

: the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness


Wow, those are some pretty impressive attributes to have, aren't they? I know a lot of people, myself included, that need more "common sense", or even SOME "common sense". If your driving down the interstate in the left lane doing 100 miles an hour, and a police car comes up right behind you with lights flashing, siren blaring,: "Common Sense" would recommend that you pull over, and be very polite to the officer as he either writes you a ticket or even handcuffs you and takes you "downtown". We hear about people, though, in this very same situation, who decide they can get away from the police, so they decide to run. We usually hear about the aftermath on the news: "Police chase car for 20 miles through downtown, at speeds of up to 120 MPH, as 2 people are killed, and the culprit crashes into a bridge support and dies, film at 11". The first thing I think when I hear things like this is: "Why did they run?" Surely, "common sense" had no place in this decision.

How did God tell us we would have common sense? He calls it a "treasure" that He grants to the HONEST. Oh, now I get it, that is why so many crooks are seemingly stupid, lacking any common sense. When they crossed the line between Honesty and Dishonesty then common sense jumped out the window. So what does the first part of Proverbs 2:7 tell us? That God "Grants" (gives us, as in a gift.) the "Treasure" (something valued, sought after, given praise for having, beautiful, rare) of "Common Sense" to the "Honest" (truthful, reliable, just, someone you would trust your most precious possessions or even your family).


"He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. Look at Websters definition of Integrity above, especially the last line, last word: "Completeness". Integrity is allot of things, but I have never heard the word completeness used. What is God saying here? That integrity 'Completes" us, as human beings, as His children, as men as women. Thus it is implied that to not have Integrity we are not complete, we are in parts, trying to figure out what is wrong with us, nothing works because we are not finished, but we think we are.
Do you , like me, see a lack of Integrity in this world? Everyday, it seems, there is another "Breaking Story" about a corrupt, or immoral act of a famous person, a politician, a athlete, a teacher, a coach. If there is THIS many people that are famous that are acting this way, think of the millions of "Plain Jane" citizens who do also.


When you find a place of business, say a cleaners, a automotive garage, a restaurant, somewhere you take your business that shows honesty, and integrity, you tend to go again and again as the need arises. There is a automobile shop here in town that my Mom found many years ago. She took both of her and Dad's cars there for years and years. My ex-wife and I did also, both my children have taken their cars there over the years. If anyone asks me of a honest shop, I recommend them. I always say: "They aren't the cheapest, but they will fix it right and be very honest with you, and they stand behind their work". No, they aren't cheap, but they use the best parts, fix it right and will not pressure you for more work then needs to be done. They have integrity, they have been in business a long time, they are not the busiest shop on the street, but they do well. I take my truck to them, because they are honest, and they know me. Why would I go anywhere else?
My Dad and I go to a fast food restaurant every week, usually at the same time of day, on the same day of the week. The workers there, know us, they usually say "Regulars today, guys?" They know our orders even before we get to the register. They are very nice and friendly, they genuinely care about us,they ask us how things are going in specific areas of our life. They laugh and cut up with us, make us feel comfortable. We continue to go back because of this, and we also like the food.

One of the first things I think of when I hear the word "Integrity" is the lack of it in Washington DC. It that city is void with it. But according to the above scripture, God is a "Shield to those who walk with Integrity". When you walk with integrity, honesty, transparency, refuse to take the "kickbacks" refuse to "play the game", then your going to be attacked in this world. GOD will be your shield, He will protect you from the "stones" that WILL be thrown at you. I think of politicians who stood up for "Right" who had Integrity in their lives, and where dragged through the mud for it. BUT God shielded them from harm. They were not hurt, they knew who they represented, and they stood up for Him. He rewards that.

One of the phrases I really like from the above definition is "Firm Adherence" to a code of especially moral or artistic values" "Firm Adherence" brings to mind a "Sticking to your principles" type of person. Your "adhered" stuck, couldn't get loose even if you wanted to, stand by your ethics type of person. How many politicians today can we say that about?

I read a "letter to the editor" in my local paper recently that really made me think. This person was saying that a politician that "flip-flops" on certain things, always gets criticized for it. But, according to the writer, this was something that made the politician more honest and real to them. " What is wrong with changing your mind about something" they asked. "Admitting you were wrong, and that you have seen that, is a appealing attribute to me" they went on to comment. I agree but had never given it this much thought. Yes this is something that is important to me in a person, especially someone I want to cast my vote for. Admitting that you were wrong about a certain thing, and that you have "seen the light" and changed your mind. Isn't that what we all are supposed to do when we come to Christ? Admit your a sinner, and you were wrong?


OK, back to Common Sense and Integrity, God has it, we need it, He will give it to us if we obey Him. Pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?


"Common Sense and Integrity" don't leave home without it.