“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4).

We have been focusing on integrity—what it is, why it is important, and what it takes. Last week, we said that “a thing, or a person, is not sound, unless every part is functioning optimally and working together as a system.” This applies to us as individuals—we must be striving to be whole and sound in each aspect of our lives in order to have integrity. This also applies to us as a ministry team. Each of us must be striving to be whole and sound individually in order for Nashville Rescue Mission to demonstrate total integrity as a ministry team. We can’t be incorruptible as a team if any of us is corruptible as an individual. We can’t be sound as a team if we are not striving to be sound as individuals (notice that I emphasize our strivings because we will not be perfected this side of heaven).

In the movie, Jerry Maguire, Jerry (played by Tom Cruise) declares to his estranged wife (played by Renee Zellweger):  “You complete me!” Some people think that is the most romantic statement ever made; others think that it is ridiculous. Guess what I think: I think it depends on your meaning. If you mean that two halves make a complete whole, while the math works this does not make for a sound, enduring relationship because it implies neediness for fulfillment by the other. If, however, you mean that we are each mature and functioning optimally in our own strengths and together we make a union that is even sounder, then I think it is a powerful concept. Think of our body as composed of many body parts. You know that if one body part is not functioning as it should, it affects the entire body’s effectiveness.

Recall that in the Chaplain’s Corner on “Singlemindedness,” we said the word “integrity” and the word “all” have some similar concepts. Colossians 1:15-20 makes it clear that Jesus possesses all of God’s fullness, and that God, in Jesus, holds all things together:  “¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I love you all and I pray all good things for you. My prayer for you is that you desire all good things for yourself–including integrity, incorruptibility, soundness, and completeness–and that you pray diligently for them. The scriptures say that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

We serve together on what I think is the most amazing mission field in Nashville. Where else does God bring so many helpless, hungry, and hurting men, women, and children every day? And God has brought each of us here with the opportunity to minister to these precious souls. We get to provide for their immediate needs as well as their longer term spiritual needs. We each bring important gifts to our work here, all of which contribute to the integrity of the whole team. I pray that together we will be used mightily for God’s purposes, and that we will have a single-minded, integrated focus on doing everything in our power to be good and faithful servants in the name of Jesus. I pray that nothing will distract us from this incredible mission.

In Christ (He who holds all things together),

Judy