How Honest Are You?
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
-- Ephesians 4:25
Are you an honest person? All the time? Are you sure about that?
Most of us probably consider ourselves honest. We try to tell the truth. Most of the time. Well, we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. And we don't want to make ourselves look bad. And, well, those little "white" lies don't really count, do they?
Let's be honest here. No pun intended. Being honest all the time, in every circumstance, is hard. No matter how we try, our very humanness makes total honesty almost impossible. That doesn't make it okay. Do not lie is one of the Ten Commandments. That means God takes it pretty seriously.
So how do we do better? Admit it and work at being honest. Sometimes that means learning to be tactful so that we can be honest without hurting someone's feelings. Or at least we can be kind. Compassionate.
What about when being honest makes us look bad? Yeah, that hurts. I listened to a woman today tell her doctor that she did get out and walk. I couldn't believe it. The doctor is trying to help her. To do that, he needs the truth. But it isn't pretty. Sitting in a recliner all day every day, eating candy and watching television for years isn't a pretty picture. But it's the truth. And her health reflects it.
If you don't like your reality, admit it -- then change it. God will help you. But the first step is owning it.
Have you ever known someone who lies for no apparent reason? I dated a man like that once. I tried to understand. Lie after lie. I never did. He would lie about things that made no difference. It was sad for him and I'm not sure he even realized it. I'm just thankful we parted ways.
So let me ask you again: How honest are you? This time don't be so quick to answer. Take a moment and think about it. The answer might surprise you.
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