How Honest Are You?
“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts” (Ps 51:6). Honesty is the virtue of truthfulness relating to all the issues of life, and concerns the inner heart. God is honest Himself (Deut 32;4) and knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, and knows whether we are honest.
Do you tell the truth when you might be found out, but be less than honest when no-one will know?
Do you knowingly leave someone with a false impression?
Do you make purchases on credit when you know you don’t have the ability to pay?
Do you tell God how it really is when you pray?
Do you honestly do everything that you know God wants you to do?
Are you honest concerning the teachings of the Bible?
Are you the person you pretend to be?
There is an impressive story in the New Testament of a man, Ananias, and his wife, Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). They sold their property, as many others also had done, but they made a pretence of giving the whole sum to the church. When they jointly agreed to keep some back, Ananias and Sapphira brought some money to the church leaders, saying they had sold it for the amount they were giving. Their dishonesty was immediately judged by God and punished by death. In this account of the early church, hypocrisy (dishonesty) was severely punished. God looks seriously at such falsehood. We can easily be like Ananias and Sapphira, giving a false impression. We can overlook our accountability before God. He knows our hearts, and expects complete honesty.
A hypocrite pretends to be someone or some thing he is not. He may claim to be truthful. He may not be careful when it is to his advantage to stretch the truth. He may talk of the needs of the unfortunate, but is not generous in giving time and money when disaster strikes. He may be ready to take someone else’s money as long as he is not caught. He may pretend to be concerned about his neighbours and yet find it easy to gossip about them. In all these things he is a dishonest hypocrite.
The hypocrisy of man has always grieved God. Jesus said, “This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matt 15:8). Bringing the heart and the lips together is the challenge for man. Honesty from the core of our being is the key to finding grace and favour with the Lord.
A true Christian prospers spiritually when honest before God. This means we must also be honest to our fellowmen, including in business dealings, so that we can have confidence in one another. If necessary, we must be willing to make any sacrifice for the sake of the truth.
There is a lesson we can learn from the following experience. A teacher asks a boy, “Would you tell a lie for three cents?” “No, ma’am” replied the youngster. “Would you tell a lie for ten cents?” “No, ma’am”, said the boy. “Would you tell a lie for a dollar?” “No, ma’am” was the reply. “Would you tell a lie for a thousand dollars?” “My,” he said to himself, “What wouldn’t I do for a thousand dollars?” This boy was very honest.
Do you say you are walking in the light of God, while at the same time doing such evil works as:
Honesty is a test of character. God knows our hearts and there is nothing hidden from Him. Our motives and attitudes need to be submitted to the honesty test. We need to be faithful, honest, kind, loving, respectful, and joyful if we want God to forgive our sins.
Bro Mangeni Rogers (Busia, Uganda)
