Do you live a compartmentalized life? Many of us take the different areas of life and put them in neat little boxes: the work box; the church box; the family box; and so on. Each box is fully equipped with its own set of people and places, vocabulary and values.

The problem is that if you are not the same man in every area, you are walking what the author of Proverbs calls a “crooked path” – you’re always changing directions, never really knowing where you’re headed. Proverbs says the man walking the crooked path will be found out, destroyed, a fool and subject to a sudden loss of station. Conversely, a man who walks with integrity is secure, righteous and will be delivered by God. (see Proverbs 10:9, 11:3, 19:1, 28:18)

When you live a compartmentalized life, you give sin a place to take root. Your good language at home won’t replace your bad language at work. Your compassionate tones at church won’t replace your raunchy jokes on the softball team. We all know it’s the other way around.

Do you want to live a secure, righteous and uncomplicated life? Be a man of integrity. Break down the barriers between the compartments. Make your life one box – one, big, gospel-shaped box – with Christ as the foundation, overflowing with the vocabulary and values of a man who loves God with everything he has, impacting the people around you with His love, for His glory.

Brett Clemmer is our VP of Leadership Development, training, speaking and writing on behalf of the ministry. He joined Man in the Mirror in 2000 after a career in business and human services. Along with Patrick Morley and David Delk, Brett is the co-author of No Man Left Behind. Brett married Kimberly in 1991, and they have a daughter and son, both in college.