Question & Answer by Pastor Filmore

When God created us, He created us to have a free will, the right to choose the directions for our live as we see fit.  In scripture He said in Deuteronomy 30:19, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"
In the beginning He said for His creation(Adam and Eve) to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.  I also need to insert the fact that Lucifer(Satan) declared that he would raise his throne above the throne of God and make himself as though he was god in Isaiah 14:12-14, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
From that time to now, Satan has been trying to get man to make decisions contrary to what God’s plan for man is.  God wants us to prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.  Having this information as a backdrop, let us consider Proverbs 11:3-6, "The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness."
Integrity means innocence, complete, wholeness, honesty, uprightness.  Whereas popularity means liked by the people or by many people, having many friends.  Look at what the writer of Proverbs says in Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  That friend is Jesus and He will always be there for you.
Proverbs 19:1, "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool."  This proverb is admonishing us to walk in integrity and not in perverseness or popularity where you will find friends that are there if you are doing what they want, in order that you may be popular.  Joseph walked in integrity, even in refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife, because it was the right thing to do and not looking at whether he could get by with it or not.  As he continued to walk in integrity, God rewarded him greatly and He will reward all who walk before him in integrity.  To be popular with the world you will compromise your values and that makes you be at odds with the Lord.  Here is what God’s advice to us as found in 1 John 2:15, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."  The world love its own, but you as a Christian are not of the world.  Love God and stay in His Presence and His Love.