THE PATIENCE TEST, NO. 14 * INTEGRITY IS A FOUNDATIONAL VIRTUE

We read the description of God's blessing on Job's life in Job 29:2-10, 22, 23:

"Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
The princes refrained talking and laid their hand on their mouth.
The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. . . .
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them."

Not only did he lose all his material possessions, but now he is covered with boils from head to foot. To top it all off, here comes his so-called comforters, sent by Satan, to criticize and discomfort him. Worst of all, he seems to have lost all fellowship and contact with God.

For a period of time God demonstrated to Satan that here was one man that, no matter what calamity came upon him, he would not ever slander or speak evil of God. Job states in Job 13:15, 16: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: . . . He also shall be my salvation."

After Job received the news of all his material possessions being wiped out and his ten children killed, "Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:20-22).

Men, it is very important for us fathers to train our children in this most important virtue.

America needs a revival of integrity in the White House, Senate, House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, CIA, IRS, and all state governments. We need integrity in our church pulpits. But most important of all, we must have integrity in the foundation of our society which is the family.

Integrity is a foundational virtue.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell