The Overwhelming Importance of Integrity, Honour and Truth in the Christian’s Life!

07 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 19:1.         Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Then it was Saturday, my brethren! Our lazy-day Saturday, when we can just relax and laze around at home, not worried about going to work in the cold, wintry weather. And believe me, though it’s bright and sunshiny, it’s also very cold out there. The computer is flashing a cold warning. So if you don’t have to go out, then don’t. I’m also remembering the wind that was a howling and caterwauling like a chorus or keening of crazed banshees (smile) in my area last night. 

At one point, around ten thirty p.m., I kept hearing this strange noise outside, but thought that could not be the wind because it sounded so eerie. Then I looked outside and saw the leafless branches of the trees dancing like crazy and snow blowing wildly from west to east. Thankfully though, it didn’t last for much longer, and I hope it did not damage anyone or anything. So, having said all of that, (smile) let’s offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer in all sincerity and truth. 

‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And if our words were faithful and true, our hearts right with the Lord, then He will undoubtedly bless us with the peace and calm of His marvellous Spirit; a peace and calm that our finite minds cannot comprehend, but which gives us the wherewithal to keep on keeping on in His awesome name. 

Now, as I was looking through the Bible for something to talk about, (no, I don’t always have something planned when I come to write the Bit (smile), I came upon this most appropriate passage for these irresponsible and outlandish times from Cousin Sol in Proverbs. He writes: ‘Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.’ (Prov. 19:1) 

Wow! What an amazing remark that highlights the lack of integrity in these greedy, selfish and irresponsible times, where our word means absolutely nothing, and we don’t feel compelled to keep it, if we give it. That’s why our society is in such an awful mess, with strife and chaos reigning from one end to the other. And that’s mostly because even our leaders, who are supposed to have serious integrity, no longer walk with any kind of integrity whatsoever. 

And, unfortunately, the things that filter down from the top are the ungodly and sinful things like, greed, irresponsibility, hatred, anger, slander and hunger for power. And if you consider the upper echelons of our current society, those are the things that are driving it right now. So, it’s obvious that those governed by that type of leader will eventually adopt those habits, bringing eventual ruination to the society. 

However, God’s people, those who seriously follow Jesus Christ are not supposed to be like that. We Christians are supposed to walk with integrity, responsibility, truth, and godliness in all our endeavours. And Cousin Sol says it so well in this passage from Proverbs on the ‘Companion of Riotous Men.’ 

‘Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness (integrity), than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Whoso keepeth the law is a wise (discerning) son: but he that is a companion of riotous men (gluttons) shameth his father. He that by usury and unjust gain (extortion) increaseth his substance (possessions), he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.’ (Prov. 28:6-9) 

Oh my people, that’s a mirror image of our own society in these turbulent and evil times! Extortion, blackmail, blasphemy, scandal mongering, total ignoring of the law, all those things are what’s happening in the world today. And it’s not starting from the bottom either, but from the top; the very heights of power. Leaders have now become so corrupted and power hungry that they will do anything to increase their earthly possessions and their power. 

So what can you expect from the lower classes of society but the same thing eh? They see, and therefore believe that the only way to climb the ladder of worldly success is by behaving the way the rich and powerful leaders behave. And you really cannot give them wrong…unless they are Christians, for none of those things are worthy of the name of Jesus Christ. 

And I like how Cousin Sol puts it in this next section titled, ‘Glory When Righteous Men Rejoice.’ He says: ‘Whoso causeth the righteous (upright) to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession (shall inherit good things). The rich man is wise in his own conceit (eyes); but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. 

When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden (will be sought). He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Happy is the man that feareth always (is always reverent): but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief (calamity). 

As a roaring lion and a ranging (charging) bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth (lacks) understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person (is burdened with bloodshed) shall flee to the pit; let no man stay (help) him.’ (Prov. 28:10-17) 

Ah friends, it’s all stated right there for us, from many centuries ago, and it’s playing out as if Cousin Sol is living with us today. No wonder he’s considered the wisest man ever. And please note he did not acquire this wisdom in his own strength and power, but through the merciful and gracious auspices of the Lord. And when we read those words above there, they ought to light a fire in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls; a fire that causes us to want to do the right thing, to do better than we’re currently doing. For we all know that regardless of how good we’re doing, we all have room for improvement. 

So please, on this lazy-day Saturday in this wintry month of February, let’s pledge to do better nuh. Remember, it’s all for our benefit! Much LOVE!

…godliness was…is still…and will always be…the best way to live this earthly life…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Overwhelming Importance for Christians to Be Patient and not Hasty, and to Wait on God’s Timing!

10 Dec 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Isaiah 52:12.           ‘For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward (rear guard).’

Well friends, it’s one of those days, when we are reminded that winter is in the air! (smile) And the snow began falling early this Wednesday morning, and in some places, like my area, it’s still falling. Therefore you can imagine what the morning commute was like, or rather is like. I’ve seen several pictures of accidents and road blocks caused by the snow and inappropriate driving. But it looks like the snow plows and sanders are our in full force and are doing their best to keep up with the falling snow. 

Let’s hope and pray that by the time evening commute rolls around that things would have settled down and the roads will not be as dangerous, although there are always impatient and ignorant folks who try to go too fast and cause accidents. And I guess that’s a good enough reason for us to check out some scriptures on haste and impatience today. And I like the overview on the subject from this commentary. ‘Scriptures often caution against haste and impatience, linking them to foolishness, mistakes, and a lack of trust in God’s timing. Instead, the Bible encourages diligence, patience, and seeking wisdom before acting.’ 

And that’s the living truth. We see much loss in scripture by haste and not waiting on God’s timing, like how King Saul, the first king of Israel lost his kingship due to his impatience in offering a sacrifice. And Abraham and Sarah’s impatience to have a child of their own, led them to father one with their Egyptian maid Hagar, Ishmael, which only caused family conflict back then, with Isaac their natural son, and is till causing it today, between the Jews and the Muslims. 

And Cousin Sol, the wisest man, had a lot to tell us about haste. Proverbs 19 opens with two dillies. ‘Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good: and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.’ (Prov. 19:1-2) Yes friends, desire without knowledge and hasty actions can certainly lead to serious mistakes and even more serious consequences. 

Then in Proverbs 21, Cousin Sol offers this bit of awesome wisdom. ‘The thoughts (plans) of the diligent tend only (lead surely) to plenteousness; but every one that is hasty only to want (surely to poverty). (Prov. 21:19) And we all know there’s much truth in those words, as many of us have experienced them in our own lives, where instead of careful planning, we hastened to get plenty, but instead suffered disappointment. As the old people would say, more haste, less speed. And again, the Proverbs of Cousin Sol offers up this gem re hastiness. ‘He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit (impulsive) exalteth folly.’ (Prov. 14:29)

 Meanwhile in Ecclesiastes, writing as the Preacher, Cousin Sol offers up this other tidbit on haste. ‘Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.’ (Eccl. 7:9) More unadulterated truth! And the last piece of wisdom from Cousin Sol is this: ‘A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent (go unpunished).’ (Prov. 28:20) And we see that happening every day, especially in this current greedy and avaricious society, people rushing to get rich and falling flat on their faces. 

But Isaiah however tells us about waiting on God’s timing. ‘For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward (rear guard).’ (Is. 52:12) And we also get the same wise advice from Isaiah. 40. ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run , and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is. 40:31) Yes my faithful brethren, God’s protection is always present when we wait on him, and don’t rush out in haste or fear. Furthermore, in Galatians, Bruh Paul lists patience (longsuffering) as a fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23) 

Then in the epistle of James, he cautions us re patience and anger, when he writes: ‘Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not (does not produce) the righteousness of God.’ (James 1:19-20) Then Romans 12:12, tells us about patience in affliction as an aspect of faith ‘Rejoicing in hope; patient (persevering) in tribulation; continuing instant (steadfastly) in prayer.’ And in Bruh Paul’s letter to the Colossians, when talking about walking worthy of the Lord, he exhorts: ‘Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.’ (Col. 1:12) 

There we have it friends, walking with God in patience and joyfulness despite what might happen to us. And we’ll close with this gem from the pen of Bruh David in Psalm 27 that we all know. ‘Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait (in faith) I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps. 27:14) 

Now, with all those wise and wonderful words of scripture on haste and patience under our belts, lets’ go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus! As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And the long and short of the story is that if we endure to the very end with Jesus, then we will enjoy a future even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So, wisdom dictates that we endure to the very end, so we can enjoy that more than glorious future together! Much LOVE!

…patience is the bedrock of the Christian life…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien