INTEGRITY

MANSFIELD'S BOOK OF MANLY MEN (161-174)

• ...the word integrity is related to the word integral, which means "soundness, wholeness or entire."
• The army of ancient rome used this word almost daily in it's inspection ritual...the commander would stand in front of a soldier and the soldier would sweep his fist hard into the middle of his chest and shout "Integras"...The commander would listen for that rich, full quality of a healthy soldier's voice and then he listened for the clang that well-kept armor would emit when struck.
• Job lived in the land of Uz...he was wealthy, he was devoted to God, and he served as a priest for his family, praying and making sacrifices for them.
• And so begins about the worst day any man in the history of the world has ever had begins to unfold
• An enemy tribe steals Job's donkeys and oxen, killing his servants in the process
• Fire falls from heaven and burns up his flocks and still more servants.
• Another tribe takes his camels
• A house collapses and kills his sons and daughters
• Though he is devastated, he does not accuse God of wrongdoing.
• God gives permission and Satan strikes his flesh...Job ends up in such agony that he digs jagged pieces of pottery into his body in hopes of ending the pain.
• Job endures criticism and self-satisfied advice from his wife and a handful of friends.
• Job's hope..."I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"(Job 19:25-27)
• He is in complete physical agony. He's lost everything. He has friends telling him what a fool and sinner he is. Even his wife has turned agains him. Still, he hopes for God and stands on what is true.
• Job will not be swayed by the opinions of men.
• Job speaks the truth as he knows it.
• Job never accuses God.
• Job defends himself.
• Job was quick to admit his wrongs.
• Job listened to criticism.
• Finally, Job waited. 
• He might have killed himself. He might have cursed God. He might have killed his stunningly ignorant friends. He might have lost all hope. Instead, in agony and while a stench to his friends, he looked to God and waited...Men want to act, to fix what's wrong and broken. Sometimes, though, the better part of manhood is to know what you can't fix and to wait on the God who can. Waiting is hard. Waiting is a test. Waiting is also a way of saying, "God is God and I am not. He'll act when he's ready. Until then, I'm here." It may be the greatest statement of faith we can make, particularly during times of suffering. It's hard. That's why it's part of being a manly man.