Integrity is at the core of our school values. In fact, it is the bedrock of our community. Integrity refers to moral and spiritual uprightness – a firm decision to hold oneself to an ethical standard regardless of the difficulties or consequences. It is always doing what is right. The word integrity comes from Latin adjective integer, meaning whole or complete. Integrity, therefore, is a deep sense of ‘wholeness’ deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistent character.

Sadly, our contemporary society has gone soft on integrity; everything, including ethical standard, is relative. Relativism has insisted that what an individual considers an act of integrity might not necessarily be an act of integrity to another.

Proverbs 11:3 says: “The integrity of the upright guides them; but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroys them.” The Hebrew word translated ‘integrity’ here is tummah, also translated blameless in other passages. This indicates moral wholeness. This does not mean free from all sin but a deep desire to lead a God-honouring life. This deep desire to honour God keeps the morally upright person on the right path and helps him or her avoid much of the trouble that crookedness brings.

According to this verse, the crooked people are ruined by their own deceitfulness. A crooked person is one who lies or twists the truth for his or her own profit. ‘The crooked’ here are those who disobey God and hurt others. In their disobedience, they will in fact be the greatest losers as their lives will surely lead to disaster.
God places a very high value on integrity and so should we.

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.” Luke 6:43-44 (NIV)