How Does Honesty Help Us Model the Love of Jesus?

Author

Updated June 29, 2023

How important is honesty to you? I would imagine that 100% of survey participants would say they hate to be lied to, but a far smaller percentage would be able to honestly say they always tell the truth.

Lying has become “normal” in much of our modern culture. Advertisers and marketing campaigns promise what they can never deliver. Politicians make statements while running for office while fully intending to do just the opposite once elected. It’s estimated that tax fraud costs the United States upwards of $1 trillion each year. Marriage vows are broken as often as they are kept. Children and teenagers lie to parents, teachers, and other authorities without a second thought. Lies are acceptable, and even expected, if they achieve our intended purpose or gain some benefit we desire.

For Christ-followers, honesty isn’t just an option; it’s non-negotiable. Scripture is clear that lying is a sin, and that sincere disciples of Jesus are committed to truth-telling. We understand that sin entered the world with a lie: “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die!’” (Genesis 3:4).

Honesty is more than “the best policy.” Our character reveals the character of the one to whom we belong.

On the one hand, Satan is the father of lies, the great deceiver, unable to tell the truth.

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

On the other hand, God is truth and cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:14, 17).

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6).

“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).

Is Honesty Important to God?

Perhaps the clearest example of how seriously God takes our commitment to truth is in His discipline and judgment of His beloved people, the Jews. Dishonesty and deception had become their practice, making His name odious to the surrounding heathen nations. While idolatry was high on the list of charges against them, God was deeply grieved with the dishonest and treacherous way they treated one another. His holy nature required that He judge them for this great sin.

The prophet Jeremiah explains it clearly, and as followers of Jesus, we are wise to take heed to God’s expectations of honesty in His people.

“Oh that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh that I had in the desert a wayfarers’ lodging place; that I might leave my people and go from them! For all of them are adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. ‘They bend their tongue like their bow; lies and not truth prevail in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,’ declares the Lord. ‘Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, and do not trust any brother; because every brother deals craftily, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. Everyone deceives his neighbor and does not speak the truth, they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me,’ declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, I will refine them and assay them; for what else can I do, because of the daughter of My people? Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit; with his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, but inwardly he sets an ambush for him. Shall I not punish them for these things?’ declares the Lord. ‘On a nation such as this shall I not avenge Myself?’” (Jeremiah 9:1-9).

Here are five areas where we should strive for honesty, so that our lives are a model of the love – and truth – of Christ.

1. Honesty in Our Personal Faith Walk

One reason people lie is they feel a need to appear to be other than they are. Perhaps they want to be approved and accepted by someone they look up to or feel the weight of expectations they cannot meet. These are fleshly, worldly thoughts that will keep us from enjoying the gift of salvation and grace that brought us full acceptance into God’s family through Christ.

We need to be honest in our faith walk, recognizing our need for spiritual growth. We have no need to impress God. Instead, we should come humbly to Him, honestly confessing sin when convicted and striving to walk with integrity and honesty according to His commands.

“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance” (Luke 8:15).

“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:21).

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4).

2. Honesty in Our Words

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. James expands on this principle in his letter to the believers. “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).

Lying begins with our words. There are no such things as “little” lies or “white” lies. Jesus set the example for us as every word that came out of His mouth was true; in Him there was no deception at all. Our words must reflect that same commitment to truth.

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).

“Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, ‘Was I not joking?’” (Proverbs 26:18-19).

“Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips” (Proverbs 24:28).

“Truthful lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19).

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will not escape” (Proverbs 19:5).

3. Honesty in Our Business

Scripture reveals that God expects us to be honest in our financial and practical business with others. Our commitment to dealing honestly is a great testimony to our faith. In the same way, deceitfulness for gain is hypocritical for a believer, and reflects badly on our Savior.

“You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you” (Deuteronomy 25:13-15).

“A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; all the weights of the bag are His concern” (Proverbs 16:11).

“Differing weights and differing measures, both of them are abominable to the Lord” (Proverbs 20:10).

“Can I justify wicked scales and a bag of deceptive weights? For the rich men of the city are full of violence, her residents speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. So also I will make you sick, striking you down, desolating you because of your sins” (Micah 6:11-13).

“Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain” (Psalm 119:36).

4. Honesty in Our Relationships

All of us are in relationship with others. Whether we are parents, siblings, or extended family, or co-workers or neighbors, both our actions and our words define our character and reflect on the character of Jesus. Are you always honest with your spouse? Do you hide things from your loved ones? Do you share in honest communication to build up others?

“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18).

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:14-16).

5. Honesty in Our Communication of the Gospel

Sharing the gospel means telling the truth about God’s love for mankind. It also involves honesty about sin. Before a person can come to faith in Christ, they must recognize their need for salvation and acknowledge their sin has separated them from God. We must, in honesty, share the complete gospel, with love and humility, gentleness and respect (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2).

“[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

“A truthful witness saves lives, but he who utters lies is treacherous” (Proverbs 14:25).

“Therefore Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice’” (John 18:37).

How Do We Develop the Practice of Honesty?

Just as lying can become a habit, so can telling the truth. Thankfully, God has put His Spirit in us – the Spirit of truth – to guide our words and actions. In addition, reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word will develop the habit of truthfulness in those who follow Christ.

Do you have a habit of lying? Ask God to help you change and become a person of truth, pleasing to Christ, and an example to a world that is deceived.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

Author Sheila Alewine is a pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother of five. She and her husband lead Around The Corner Ministries, which serves to equip Christ-followers to share the gospel where they live, work and play. She has written seven devotionals including Just Pray: God’s Not Done With You Yet, Grace & Glory: 50 Days in the Purpose & Plan of God, and her newest one, Give Me A Faith Like That, as well as Going Around The Corner, a Bible study for small groups who desire to reach their communities for Christ. Their ministry also offers disciple-making resources like One-To-One Disciple-Making in partnership with Multiplication Ministries. Sheila has a passion for God’s Word and shares what God is teaching her on her blog, The Way of The Word. Connect with her on her blog, Facebook, and Instagram.