Struggling With Honesty

This week we’ve looked at what the Bible has to say about the moral characteristic of honesty. We know that if aletheia truth is going to prevail in our lives, then honesty should be the hallmark of our lives.

But what about the person, even the Christian, who struggles with honesty? And it is important to remember that honesty is more than just what we say; it should characterize all aspects of our lives. Notwithstanding, our speech is usually a clear sign of how honest we actually are.

While teaching on the excellence of wisdom, King Solomon wrote these seemingly quasiideal words:

    “Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them.” (Proverbs 8:6-8)

What I mean by seemingly quasiideal is Solomon appears to be promoting a concept of perfection, and that may well have been his intent, nevertheless people who embrace aletheia truth should strive to speak honestly in this manner. And if you are a Christian you are expected to conduct yourself so. We do well to heed Billy Graham’s words:

    Your speech should also be honest, especially as it concerns God’s Word. Christians have a responsibility to be honest with one another and not distort the truth.

Distort the truth = white lie (in case you didn’t catch the meaning)

Did you know it’s only natural to lie? Well then, according to the world it should be okay, especially those little white lies. All sin is only natural because we have a sin nature! It takes supernatural help to keep us from sinning:

    “Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously.” (Psalm 119:29)

Yesterday we talked about honesty in our transactions and how money and seeking riches can cause us to be dishonest. Agur no doubt had struggled with this which caused him to write:

    “Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)

Did you realize that truthfulness is one of our protections against the devil? Do you remember this?

    “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness…” (Ephesians 6:14)

There it is, smack dab in the middle of the whole armor of God, the main ingredient that keeps everything in place for the spiritual warrior is to be girded in the truth. And yes, it is the word aletheia Paul uses for truth. And the breastplate of righteousness protect us from the enemy’s mortal blows he attempts at our spirit.

Wow Bro Dave, how did I miss that? Aletheia truth is right in the middle of our spiritual armor? I don’t know; it’s right there in your Bible. While I’m partially kidding you, the important thing to remember is we must always turn to Scripture when we are looking for aletheia truth. Again Dr. Graham shares:

    If you struggle with honesty, study the Bible and find those passages that promise God’s strength and help in time of temptation. Meditate on verses and memorize them to help you keep God’s principles constantly in your mind. Pray that the Lord will exchange your dishonest words and behavior with His honesty.

Thought you were off the hook for a second there until he added the word “behavior”, huh?

Beloved, the truth has become a cheap commodity in America. We have so long lied that without aletheia truth being worked through the lives of the Church by the Holy Spirit, we will not rescue our nation.

It has become my new calling to help spread the aletheia truth across this land through patriots just like you. I will need your help; I cannot do it on my own. This calling is why I’ve started Aletheia Group L.L.C. and will be launching our new website on Tuesday, July 5th. We, you and me, and all the other good people we recruit, will become a Truth Watch, to make sure that honesty prevails in speech, behavior, business…all areas of society so that once and for all aletheia truth…absolute truth…is the characteristic of America.

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 235th birthday, may I ask you to do three things:

First, remember to go to church on Sunday.

Second, before you crank up the BBQ on Monday and maybe even after your guests arrive, would you please take a moment to actually read our Declaration of Independence. Read it in the manner that my pastor advised me; read it as a prosecutorial indictment. The brilliance of that document never came more alive then when I did so.

Third, make a new commitment to read your bibles daily. You can begin simply by reading the Proverb for the day, start today reading Proverbs 1. Just look at what Solomon promises if you read them:

    “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:2-7)

May we not despise wisdom; may we begin to understand our Lord Jesus Christ Who is Wisdom.

Beloved, I covet your prayers. I am setting off into to uncharted waters. I need wisdom; I need honesty; I need protection from covetousness.

May the Lord greatly bless you and I pray you have a wonderful weekend.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers

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