Britta Lafont

Britta Lafont

  • Home
  • Hi! I’m Britta
  • Read the Blog
  • Contact Me
  • My Books
  • Speaking

February 18, 2014 · 2 Comments

Integrity and Love

Integrity

Integrity and LoveI found myself lacking Integrity.  Not like the IRS when they pick on people for political reasons.  Not like big Wall Street guys who’ve cheat little old ladies out of their life savings.  Not like some college kid who plagiarized his term paper.

No. Me? I found myself divided and without internal consistency; and this is a lack of Integrity.  Integrity is:

  • The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness (honor, righteousness).
  • The state of being whole and undivided;
  • The state of being unified, unimpaired or sound in construction (stable);
  • Having internal consistency or lack of corruption.

Yes, Integrity is about being honest and doing the right thing even when no one is looking.  I do that.  I return found money.  I keep my commitments.  I am truthful.  I am faithful.  I am loyal.  I stand up for what’s right, even if it gets uncomfortable.

But it goes deeper that that. At its core, Integrity is about doing what God made us to do, and He made us to be like Him. Sometimes we are at odds with our Maker and we don’t even realize it.

God made the bee to buzz, and it obeys. God made trees to grow toward the sky, and they obey. God made the tides to rise and fall, and they obey. God made the Earth to rotate on its axis, and it obeys. God made our hearts to know Him, seek Him, love Him, honor Him, and also to imitate Him…but do we obey?

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8).

I found myself lacking Integrity because I was lacking in Love.   

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).

Here is what a lack of Love sounds like:

  • “You are getting on my nerves!”…but Love is not irritable (1 Cor 13:4).
  • “You do that every time” OR “You always <insert personal grievance here>” but  Love is not resentful/keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor 13:4).
  • “You can’t tell me what to do” OR “Why won’t you just do it my way?” OR “This is the way we always do it”…but Love does not insist on its own way (1 Cor 13:5).
  • “I can’t take this, it’s just not fair”…but Love bears all things (1 Cor 13:7).

If we love God, we obey Him.  If we obey Him, we will love others.  We have no Integrity (righteousness) if we do not obey Him.  And if we do not have righteousness (rightness with God), we do not feel held together, or whole, or stable.  We lack internal consistency if we are not consistent with God, and we are corrupted when we choose our will over His (technically this is Sin).

Still here was my struggle: What do you do when you’re all out of love?  [Besides singing Air Supply songs…]  I have always wanted to be loved.  But what I didn’t know that I was made for loving.  [OK, that’s almost a KISS song…starting to show my age here.]

I’d like to take a closer look at Love in the next few posts.  For today, tell me, do you ever struggle to love?  Is it just me, or do people really get under your skin sometimes?  Do you react in anger when wronged, or build a strong wall around your heart, so other people won’t hurt you?

hugsignature

Share this:

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Don’t miss out!

Previous Post: « Memory Verse Monday: February 17
Next Post: What We’re Reading Lately (WWRL) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy says

    February 18, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    You are EXTRA funny!!! Ha!!! I tend to be a protective wall builder. I would say I fear /expect rejection. Love! May my love for HIM increase so HE may love through me. May I be grateful for those “tricky” people…who grAte on my senses. May I see them as strategically placed to increase my love for my Creator and in turn , them. May I obey…and love anyway…minus the feeling. I think that’s where I appreciate James, as he puts The Word into action . Having trouble loving a particular person? Pray for him/her. Acts of service for him/her!! Serve with loving acts of kindness and permit God to fill in the gaps…..while at the same time, fully confessing and crying out to Him for His Grace. With the power of God… may we never be “all out of love”. Thank you for your post, Britta!

    Reply
    • Britta says

      February 19, 2014 at 4:04 pm

      🙂

      Reply

Tell me what's on your heart: Cancel reply

Footer

Curate: collect and display evidence of God's goodness.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Want to come with?

In my typical social media introvert fashion, I re In my typical social media introvert fashion, I realize I didn’t share Gracie’s post on my feed at the time. 🤦🏻‍♀️
We are so thankful for this young man. ❤️ We are so thankful for this young man. ❤️
When the first day of school is also the day your When the first day of school is also the day your firstborn drives herself to college, it’s a lot. We moved her stuff into her dorm last week. Today she got up early to say goodbye to Dad (too early! Not pictured 😂), her brother, her doggo, her piano, and her momma. Before she left, she made blueberry scones to share with her little bro @sjoshlafont —they homeschool and relocated together, went to @westminsteroakmtn together, and have shared a love of music, Legos, superheroes (and villains), Transformers, and so much more. She played my favorite song. She even made banana bread to bring to her new roomie. @graciethenerd You are my little nut brown hare, and I love you to the moon and back. Auburn University is a better place because you are there! ❤️
Josh just started working in the bakery at Publix. Josh just started working in the bakery at Publix. Today he got his braces off. I just can’t believe it—where did the time go? @sjoshlafont
I’m a social media introvert mostly, but I’m r I’m a social media introvert mostly, but I’m reflecting today and feeling grateful for my sweet girl, my baby, my first-born. 🥰 She sure is a blessing to our family and her friends. Also, so grateful for the wonderful school where she spent the last four years—the perfect place to land after years of homeschooling on the move. “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Ps 100:5) #curatingthegood #graduated🎓 #wisebeyondheryears @graciethenerd @lafonte04 @westminsteroakmtn
Best Thanksgiving that I can remember. I am so gra Best Thanksgiving that I can remember. I am so grateful for my people!! 🤗 ❤️@graciethenerd @thecardboardqueen @lafonte04 
#Psalm8 #highlandlakes #birminghamalabama
My friend @amy_young1234 is so generous! She has f My friend @amy_young1234 is so generous! She has found a way to share her birthday with friends all year long. This past week, I had to privilege to be her #FOTW You can read about her plan to celebrate her birthday by celebrating others in the link to her blog at the end of this post. That’s SO like Amy. 🤗 https://www.messymiddle.com/52-cards-52-weeks-52-years/ #curatingthegood
  • Got Enough?
  • You Need THIS
  • Got Joy?
  • You’re Called to THIS
  • Got Good?
  • You Were Made for THIS

Copyright © 2025 · beloved theme by Restored 316

 

Loading Comments...
 

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.