1 Samuel 15:30 (NKJV)
“Then he said, ‘I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Is.., and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.’”

We live in a culture where shame and honor are very important. Where we live, people will go to extreme lengths to ensure that they are seen in a particular light and recognized in specific ways. In this culture, public image is more important than integrity. In fact, integrity is measured by public image, and so working on personal image supersedes working on integrity.

And therein lies the problem. Who we are, should never be determined by how we make people see us. People may see us in very lofty ways and yet, deep in our hearts, we know we don’t deserve their accolades. What would it take to live beyond the desire for public honor?

Integrity means being honest and true to who you are and living by high moral principles. In a society that exalts public honor above integrity, people are celebrated despite personal corruption and degrading public morality. And even when people know that someone does not deserve honor, people are very reluctant to address the issues at stake, for shame-sake.

Saul was more concerned about his public image and honor, rather than address the core issue about his life. He admitted he had sinned only so that Samuel could honor him before the elders and the people. Even though he knew that he had sinned before God, and was in danger of losing his place before God, yet, his public image remained his priority. Very sad indeed.

Genuine repentance has only one focus, and that is to correct what we did wrong. Genuine repentance is only thinking of making things right before God and before men. In genuine repentance, our shame is not our priority. What God thinks of us, is our priority.

The honorable man thinks of his public image last because he knows that living in integrity is more important than what people think. Such a man is quick to repent wherever he feels he has deviated, and is constantly working to ensure that he lives right before God, not men. And here is wisdom. Living right before God brings honor at a scale that transcends time and humanity.

As pilgrims, let’s not live by the public expectations of our culture. We belong to a higher and richer culture. We belong to the culture of eternity. We don’t live for the temporary. We have honor because our eyes are on pleasing Him who is eternal, rather than men who are temporal. Integrity is choosing to gain God’s honor rather than the honor of men.