What Is a Godly Man?ਨਮੂਨਾ

Lead With Integrity

The third mark of a godly man is that he lives with integrity. Integrity means there's congruence between what you say and how you live—your actions match your words. Proverbs 20:7 says, "A righteous man lives with integrity; happy are his children who come after him."

Your integrity doesn't just affect you—it blesses the next generation. When you live with integrity, your children see a model of godliness, and they're more likely to follow in your footsteps. But when there's a disconnect between what you say and what you do, it creates confusion and undermines your witness.

Titus 2:6-8 gives us a clear picture of integrity in action: "Encourage the young men to be self-controlled in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn't have anything bad to say about us."

Paul is saying that a godly man's life should be so consistent that even non-believers can't find fault with his character. Imagine that—non-Christians who know you saying, "He's the real deal."

Of course, the world is full of godly men and women who love Jesus, but there may be many people in your life who you are the only Christian they personally know. They may see you differently from "those Christians," and you have the opportunity to show them that many Christians are actually the real deal.

That's the power of integrity.

Let's get practical. If you're married, do you have integrity in how you treat your wife? You might say, "I love you," but if you're giving yourself to other women through pornography or emotional affairs, your words are empty. Integrity means your love is consistent in action—do you take her on dates, listen to her, and honor her with your eyes and heart?

If you're a father, do you hold your kids to standards you don't keep yourself? You might tell them to be honest, but if they see you cutting corners at work or speaking poorly about others, they'll notice the hypocrisy. Proverbs 28:6 says, "Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong." It's not about perfection—it's about striving to live what you teach.

At work, integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Do you speak about your spouse or others with honor, or do you join in the gossip? Are there secret sins in your life that you're hiding, acting like everything is okay? In your church, do your worship and your daily life reflect the same faith?

When you sing worship songs and pray in a small group, does your Monday-through-Saturday life demonstrate the same commitment? Integrity isn't about being sinless—we all fall short—but it's about being honest with God and others, confessing where you fail, and striving to align your life with His standards.

Living with integrity takes intentionality. It's part of training yourself in godliness, as Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:7. You don't stumble into a life of integrity—you build it through daily choices. That might mean setting boundaries to protect your marriage, like being transparent with your spouse about your struggles.

It might mean apologizing to your kids when you mess up, showing them what humility looks like. It might mean speaking up at work when something isn't right, even if it risks your potential promotion. Integrity is a witness to the world—it shows that your faith is real.

Today, take a hard look at your life. Where is there a gap between what you say and how you live? Maybe it's in your marriage, with your kids, at work, or in your church. Be honest with God about it. Confess it, bring it into the light, and ask Him to help you change. When you live with integrity, you're not just honoring God—you're leaving a legacy for those who come after you.

Reflection Question: What's one thing you need to confess or bring into the light to live with more integrity?

Remember: A man of God loves sacrificially, leads courageously, lives with integrity, and follows Jesus humbly.

Prayer Prompt: God, I want to walk in integrity. Reveal any areas where my life doesn't match my words, and give me the strength to change. Amen.