Honesty
Our Heavenly Father desires that we, His children, have an honest heart. Honesty is one of the requirements of Jehovah. This characteristic is sorely lacking in this age among many individuals. Every person should be honest in his daily dealings and conversation, but such is not always the case. A Christian must be an example in honesty, decency and uprightness.
The word "honest" is defined by Webster's Twentieth Century Dictionary as: "trustworthy, candid, straightforward, reliable, truthful, frank, open, chaste, upright." These are all characteristics that should adorn the child of God.
In Luke the eighth chapter we have related the parable of the sower. The fifteenth verse explains what type of heart was fruitful: "And that in the good ground, these are such as in honest and good heart having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience." The honest heart is the receptive, trustworthy, and fruitful heart. An honest individual realizes the high value of the Gospel and he holds on to it dearly and bears much fruit for the Lord.
The Greek word used chiefly in the New Testament which is translated honest is kalos. The word kalos is defined by Harper's Analytical Greek Lexicon as: "beautiful, good, of good quality and disposition, fertile, rich useful, profitable, excellent, choice, select, worthy, upright, virtuous." This reminds one of what the apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, THINK on THESE THINGS." This is wonderful admonition that needs to be taken to heart by all brethren in Christ. May we think on things that are truthful, honorable, just, pure, lovely and of good report. An honest heart will certainly think on these things. Honest thoughts will produce honest actions, for cut of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34) If we then desire our actions to be good and upright, we must first think good thoughts and cleanse our hearts. At a man thinks, so will he act. Disciples of the Lord must strive to keep their thoughts always clean and pure.
One of the requirements laid down by the apostles in Acts 6:3 for the men chosen to oversee the ministering to the Grecians widows, was that they be "of good report (or of honest report, in King James Version), full of the Spirit and of wisdom." These men chosen had to be honest and upright Christians. They were well spoken of and respectable men. A dishonest individual cannot serve the Lord properly. The Lord relies on honest people to perform the tasks of the kingdom. These seven good men are examples for all Christians today.
The apostle Paul again instructs one concerning honesty in Romans 12:17; "Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men." Our example before others, whether adult or child, Christian or non-Christian, must be genuinely honest and upright. We must be as Jesus, and we must do as Jesus would do. We are to be imitators of Jesus, and only when we imitate Him properly, are we true and faithful disciples of His. If we are always honest and pure, the world can say nothing evil of us unless they tell a lie. Children of God can either kill or multiply good depending on whether they are dishonest or honest.
Brethren, we need to speak the truth continually and behave correctly in all walks of life. Absolute honesty must prevail. Lying must never be engaged in even though it may mean the loss of our life. "All liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone" are the solemn words of Revelation 21:8. Courage and honesty will guard us from denying our Saviour in the face of death. If the time should ever come that we will be called on to deny the Lord and live, or confess Him and die — may we have the honesty and the decency to do the latter. The individual who lies continually in all dealings of life would never have the character to confess the Lord and die. He would find it so easy to lie again. But the Christian who daily is an honest and up-right person will find the courage to resist the temptation of the "easy-way-out" and he will remain true to God as did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
The person of the world looks at you, the Christian, and gets either a good or a bad impression of Jesus Christ according to how well you are imitating Him. What impression of Jesus does the worldly individual get when he observes you? Are you continually walking decently, honestly, and truthfully as did Jesus? The only "Bible" some people read is YOU. They never read the pages of the New Testament so they judge what it contains by how well you follow its instructions. What sort of a story are you telling them?
These are serious matters one should ponder well. Christ tells us that Christians are the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world." But, brethren, with too many of us the salt has lost its savor and the light has gone out. Honesty and decency have been traded for deceitfulness and hypocrisy. These things ought not to be.
Living an honest life for God is very important as one can readily observe from the scriptures. Paul, Peter, Luke, and many characters of the Bible, and Jesus Himself placed extreme importance on being honest and truthful. Honesty is not a cloak to be worn only on occasions, but it is a characteristic that must prevail continually. Honesty is a way of life, a quality that permeates all thoughts and actions.
May the Lord help each one of us to have an "honest and good heart" and bear much fruit to His honor and glory.
"For we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." (2 Cor. 8:21)
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