Biblical Integration

There is an old saying, but I am not sure who started it, but it says to, “Work Smart, Not Hard.” I believe the author of (Proverbs 21:5, NIV) “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty, ” was delivering a similar message. Few could argue that working smart and wise planning go hand in hand, wisdom is a magnificent gift from God and requires submission to His Word. Wisdom prevents us from rushing recklessly into unbiblical and ungodly decisions. When we apply God’s word and the wisdom we receive from obeying it, we work smart, and the hard and wise effort may lead to both spiritual and financial prosperity; whereas, haste decisions, made without prayer and wise judgment can cause us not only material loss, but sadly, eternity without Christ.

Gain without integrity is false gain. If one only wins through cheating, what has one won? In, it tells us (Proverbs 16:17, NIV) “the highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.” As a child of God, I must stay on the path of the upright in every area of my life, avoiding anything that contradicts His word. Evil comes in many forms; therefore, it is important to know God’s word and stay daily connected to him, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us when we wonder to close to evil.

Diligence is essential in the kingdom of God and leads to wisdom. Without diligence, we often want to quit when the road gets tough, or we choose to take a short cut, trying to achieve success the easy or dishonest way. Diligence allows us to wait patiently and seek God for the right path, avoiding ones own hasty plans, over His commands. In, (Proverbs 16:16, NIV) it says, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” Diligently reading God’s word and obeying His commands will lead believers to the Heavenly Home, where the streets will be paved with gold.

“Staying on the highway of the upright” as stated in (Proverbs 16:17, NIV) is the...