What does integrity look like? – Bible Study

WHAT DOES INTEGRITY LOOK LIKE?

Integrity is more than honesty; it’s the alignment of our heart, character, and actions with God’s truth. It is the quiet strength that steadies us when life’s pressures test our convictions. True integrity isn’t about perfection, but about wholeness. It’s about a heart that remains faithful to God in both the small and significant moments. In a world that often celebrates convenience over conviction, integrity calls us to stand firm in what is right, even when it costs us something. Through the story of Joseph, we see how integrity can shine brightest in the darkest places. As you walk through this study, may you be encouraged to live with unwavering faith, trusting that God blesses and upholds those who walk uprightly before Him.

INTEGRITY IN ACTION

Genesis 39:1–23
¹ Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
² The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
³ His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
⁵ From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.
⁶ So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
⁷ And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”
⁸ But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.
⁹ He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
¹⁰ And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
¹¹ But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house,
¹² she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.
¹³ And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house,
¹⁴ she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.
¹⁵ And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.”
¹⁶ Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,
¹⁷ and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me.
¹⁸ But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”
¹⁹ As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled.
²⁰ And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
²² And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.
²³ The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

What qualities of Joseph’s character stand out to you in this story?

Have you ever faced a moment when doing the right thing cost you something?

Why do you think the Lord’s presence is emphasized multiple times in this passage?

THE FOUNDATION FOR INTEGRITY

Integrity begins in the heart. It’s built on our relationship with God, guided by truth, and shaped by obedience.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 15:1–2
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.

Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Proverbs 10:9
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

1 Chronicles 29:17
I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

Job 2:3
And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”

Luke 16:10
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Colossians 3:23–24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Titus 2:7–8
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Proverbs 20:7
The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!

Psalm 25:21
May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

How does integrity differ from reputation?

How can we develop consistency in our words and actions even when no one is watching?

What role does humility play in maintaining integrity?

INTEGRITY CHALLENGED

Integrity is tested in adversity, temptation, and misunderstanding. It’s proven in moments when compromise seems easier.

Daniel 6:3-4
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.

Psalm 26:1–3
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.

Proverbs 28:6
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

James 1:2–4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 Peter 2:19–20
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Romans 12:17–18
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Matthew 5:10–12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Psalm 41:12
But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.

How do you respond when facing false accusation or misunderstanding because of doing what’s right?

How can we balance standing firm in integrity while also showing grace and peace toward others?

How can believers support one another in maintaining integrity in a culture that often rewards compromise?

THE BLESSINGS OF INTEGRITY

Integrity may cost us in the moment, but it leads to lasting favour, influence, and peace with God.

Proverbs 2:6–8
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 18:20
The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Psalm 112:4–5
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

1 Kings 9:4–5
And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Matthew 25:21
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

In what ways does integrity prepare us for greater responsibility or leadership?

Can you think of someone whose integrity left a legacy that inspired others? What made their example powerful?

How does living with integrity reflect the character of Christ in the world around you?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.