Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 11:3, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
American Standard Version
The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
World English Bible version
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
Proverbs 11:3 Meaning & Commentary
As we unpack this verse, we see two contrasting characteristics: integrity and crookedness. There are two opposing qualities. Integrity speaks of wholeness, oneness, and honesty. It conveys the idea of a person who does the right thing, whether someone else knows it or not or will find out about it. A person who walks in integrity will not steal, lie or cheat, even if they know they can get away with it. Meanwhile, a crooked person will cut corners wherever they can. Their philosophy in life is to get away with as much as possible without getting into trouble.
How does integrity guide somebody? When you walk in integrity, you are essentially walking in the law of God, which is really to love God and to love others: Matthew 22: 34-40 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “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.”
As we walk in Christ and choose to honor Him with our lives, He will be our shield: Proverbs 2:7, he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity. We cannot separate God’s laws from himself, meaning we cannot disobey God’s laws and His word and expect to walk with Him and experience his provision and protection. Likewise, crookedness will eventually be found out: Proverbs 28:18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
Application
The obvious application is to choose to always walk in integrity. What is important to note is crookedness will usually start with small matters. It is never a case of doing something majorly wrong right away, such as stealing a large sum of money. It usually starts slowly and progresses gradually. This could mean that it begins with a few lies here and there. Or not telling the truth occasionally. When this is left unchecked and allowed to grow becomes a part of our character, and we gradually grow more and more crooked.
The Bible teaches us that sin grows and is a gradual process: James 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. We need to walk in integrity with little, and be faithful, honest, and transparent with the things that might seem insignificant to us. Jesus taught that if we could be faithful with little, we would be faithful with much: 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. This certainly applies to integrity as well.
If we can be faithful, walking in integrity in the small things, we will grow to walk in integrity in all things. Also, surrounding ourselves with people who can challenge us to walk in integrity and honesty is important. If we surround ourselves with people who are crooked in their ways, they could potentially rub off on us and corrupt our character!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come to you in Jesus’s name, and I ask that you would help me to walk in integrity at all times. Please help me not to despise or neglect the small things but to grow in my integrity every day. I ask that you surround me with those people who walk in complete integrity so that I may be inspired and challenged to grow in integrity myself.
