Integrity: another facet of unity

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken... And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (Eccl 4.12; Mk 3.25)

We are quite familiar with these verses, especially when it comes to dealing with marital or church issues. I particularly use, unity or agreement, call it what you may, as a tool for knowing GOD’s will concerning certain matters. I will pray and ask GOD to answer me through my husband, and then I will submit the matter to him a first time. If he is not hot about it, I usually wait a few more days or weeks, depending, and I will bring the topic back on the table, without really insisting.  If his reaction still hasn’t changed, I drop it or have a third and final attempt a few weeks later. After this all, if GOD has still not changed the heart of my ‘boss’, then it’s obviously not His will and I move on without regret – I just want His will to be done, don’t I? Someone will say, “Yes, but what if it’s really GOD’s will and your husband is just hard-heartened and doesn’t want to submit to it?” I will say this:  

1. GOD wants me to submit to my husband in ALL things (Eph 5:24). Even if I’m about to go to church and my husband refuses that I go, I must stay home and prepare his dinner without grumbling. I have to win him by my meekness and conduct (Phil 4:5, 1Pe 3:1 & Nu 30:11-13). If I go to church nonetheless, that’s rebellion. If I stay home and call him all sorts of names under the sun, I’m just a foolish woman. Do not be fooled, that is the Bible! 
2. No one can stop GOD from doing HIS will. If it is really GOD who has laid the matter in my heart and if He wants it done, as I think, no devil –and certainly no husband– can prevent Him from doing that.

Now, let us leave that aspect of the division of a house. The LORD has opened my eyes on another one, which is very subtle but very destructive. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit, a habitation of GOD by the Spirit (1Cor 3:16, Eph 2:22). In other words, I am a house and this house cannot be divided against itself, lest I perish; lest I destroy myself; lest I do not stand, i.e. lest the wonderful plans that GOD had for me (Jer 29:11), never come to pass. How can I be divided against myself?

When my lips do not say what I think and my mind doesn’t want to acknowledge what is really in my heart. When I make a broad smile and say: “I’m happy to see you”, whilst my heart speaks of things which are pointless mentioning here. When I sincerely hope for a promotion, but I join in the office gossip and backbiting during tea or lunch breaks  – to look cool. I can multiply the examples, but I know you got the picture. In so doing, I may think myself smart, but the only person that I am wronging is me. Indeed, every time I behave in such a manner, it is as if my spirit, soul and body are going in opposite directions or singing from a different music sheet. How can I move forward (progress, succeed)? How long will it take before everything crumbles down? Hence the importance of integrity when we reflect on the power of unity. The Collins dictionary defines integrity as the quality of being unimpaired; soundness; wholeness. It is being true and one with oneself. Listen, even if nobody loves you and everybody fools you around; you ought it to yourself to love yourself enough to desire to prosper in every area and withstand. Let us be true and in perfect harmony with ourselves.

Have a great week in HIM and a lot of success.