An Inheritance of Integrity

The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him! (Proverbs 20:7 ESV)

If you have children, or hope to someday, have you considered what you will leave behind for them when you have passed on into glory? There are many things we can leave behind for our children that would come under the heading of “inheritance.” We can leave them money, property, and the possessions we have accumulated over the years. But in our verse today, God tells us about an inheritance that trumps them all: the “Inheritance of Integrity.” Blessed are the children of those who walk in integrity!

A life well-lived before the face of God is a rich inheritance indeed for our children. A rich inheritance cannot be measured by the stuff we leave behind, especially when those who have left that stuff left their integrity in order to acquire it. But the parent who has, by God’s grace, walked in integrity—even though it was done imperfectly—has left a lasting legacy under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, a legacy whose value simply cannot be measured.

• Noah walked in integrity imperfectly
• Abraham walked in integrity imperfectly
• Rahab walked in integrity imperfectly
• David walked in integrity imperfectly
• Peter walked in integrity imperfectly

You see, it is not the perfection of integrity that God blesses in our lives to our children. It is the continued practice of it in spite of its imperfection. Even in our imperfection, when our heart is beating for nothing smaller than Jesus, it blesses all those who come in contact with us. Make no mistake, the life we live will affect all those we live with. A godly example left behind is an inheritance that is rich beyond comparison. A righteous reputation left behind is an inheritance that is worth its weight in gold. We read in Proverbs 22:1 that “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”

So . . . what kind of inheritance will you be leaving behind? When all is said and done, what will be said about all you have done? Remember, regardless of where this finds you today, the fact that you are reading this right now means that God is not finished with you yet! He who began a good work in you has promised to complete it; but along the way, you must decide what inheritance you will choose to leave behind. Will it be an inheritance of integrity?

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!