The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. Prov. 10:9
The Greek word for integrity is a wonderful word picture of what it means to be a person of character that can be trusted. The word sincera literally means "without wax," and is often translated both integrity or sincere.
The word comes from the marketplace, and refers to the sale of marble statues. Artesians would carve figures of Greek gods, images that were often placed on display in the houses of aristocrates. Often a slight imperfection or slip of the hand would result in a chip or break in the statue, and would be covered up with a white paste or wax. The honest artist would place his piece of work in the direct sunlight, an act that would melt away any wax and reveal the imperfections. The work that was sin cera could stand the heat of the sun.
The book of Proverbs reminds us that crooked or imperfect paths will be found out. The Psalms tells us that the Word of God is a lamp to our feet, keeping us on the path of integrity (Psalm 119:105). That same lamp (the Word of God) is described in Hebrew 4:12 as a double-edged sword that divides soul and spirit, measuring our thoughts and motives. It is the Word of God that reveals who we truly are; whether we are living a selfish life or if we are reflecting the Lord. It is the light that shows the path we have chosen to walk on.
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