Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 14:12
Quite often, people understand integrity in a more generalized perspective as they establish their own values. They consider themselves having integrity as long as they remain true to their relative values. The problem with this perspective comes from its relativism, since it is based upon changing moral views from society rather than a secure standard of truth. Where inconsistency of ethics exists, opinion, feelings, and emotions quickly replace a standard of right and wrong. Values become fluid without a moral compass that remains constant. All too often, this leads to disaster.
Many aviation experts have claimed that the tragic deaths of John f. Kennedy, Jr, his wife, and his sister-in-law in 1999 were due to his own pilot error. Besides his lack of experience and poor judgment in several aspects, he failed to observe the signal on the instrument panel. Although the warning signs indicted that he was off course, he “felt” like he was on course and chose to fly by his own judgment instead of heeding the alarm. Perhaps this is what Solomon meant when he said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Prov. 14:12).
The Bible serves as our instrument panel. The word of God is constant and unchanging, and it is the moral compass by which we should establish our values and align our actions.
- How often do you make decisions based on your emotions instead of the stability of God’s Word? How can you keep your emotions in check?
- How do you “course correct” when life is out of control?