Honesty
Lying is addressed many times in scripture and it says much about our character and walk. For what reason do I usually lie? Is it so that others will think I am better than I truly am? Many times I want to impress others so I stretch the truth so I will look better. That is called lying not stretching the truth. Do I find myself misrepresenting the truth in order to get my way in a business deal? That too is called lying. Do I exaggerate? That is lying also. The Bible says that we are to keep any unwholesome talk from coming out of our mouth.
This is a constant re-occurring problem in many (Christians) I know. There seems to be a glitch in seeing themselves as the Lord sees them. I was talking with an individual one day as they told me a whopper of a story, of which my face must have conveyed unbelief, when the person asked if I believed her I said "not really because of other instances that I knew a lie had been told me." Christians need to realize that there is no such thing as a white lie. This is a basic staple in any relationship especially a marriage. Sometimes we fear that if we are completely honest with others that they will not receive us, but the converse is true. Honesty does not destroy relationships dishonesty does. People avoid liars and individuals who are continually conjuring some tale or story that appears to make themselves look better. It is true that honesty sometimes leads to rejection but the alternative, dishonesty, is much more destructive.
Money is an enormous test of honesty. How do you handle money matters? Greed, and the love of money causes many (Christians) to compromise and even fall. It is a mighty stronghold that diverts many from the mission of following the Lord and engrosses them in the affairs of this world. Can you be trusted with money? Proverbs 11:1 says the our Lord abhors (hates) dishonest scales. (See Lev.19:35-36, Dt. 25:15)
Honesty is closely related to integrity, in Psalm 41:12 God says," In my integrity you uphold me and set ne in your presence", it is inconceivable that a dishonest person could have any degree of integrity. Do others confide in you? Could it be that your life is perceived as not worthy of their trust. A good example of that is the life of Gehazi in 11 Kings 5 & 6. Here is a man who is in line to take the mantle of God from Elisha, there may have been a book written about him but the lack of integrity got the best of him. He wanted the money from Naaman and his life could not be trusted by the Shunamite woman. In 11 Kings 4:26 she could not even vocalize the most devastating event of her life. She had to see the man of God.
Are you trusted enough by hungry hurting people that they confide in you?
