Honesty Reveals Our Character
Honesty is a direct reflection of your inner character. Your actions are a reflection on your faith, and reflecting the truth in your actions is a part of being a good witness. Learning how to be more honest will also help you keep a clear conscious.
Character plays a big role in where you go in your life. Honesty is considered a characteristic that employers and college interviewers look for in candidates. When you are faithful and honest, it shows.
Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (NIV)
1 Timothy 1:19 – “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.” (NLT)
Proverbs 12:5 – “The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.” (NIV)
God’s Desire
While your honesty level is a reflection of your character, it is also a way to show your faith. In the Bible, God made honesty one of his commandments. Since God cannot lie, He sets the example for all of His people. It is God’s desire that we follow that example in all that we do.
Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (NIV)
Proverbs 16:11 – “The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.” (NLT)
Psalm 119:160 – “The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.” (NLT)
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The first part of honesty is about what you say
Honesty is speaking the truth. Saying things that aren’t true, or that you think might not be true, or that you are making up to hide the truth are all types of lies. Lying is not honest (also called being dishonest) because you are saying something that isn’t true.
Examples of what speaking the honest truth means:
- Honesty means you don’t say things about people that aren’t true. You are not being honest if you make up rumors about someone or if you share rumors someone else made up.
- Being honest means you admit to your actions, even if you’ll get in trouble. You are not being honest if you deny you did something wrong when you really did it.
- Honesty means you explain how a situation really happened. You are not being honest if you say something happened one way when it really happened another way.