Hionesty – Part 5
April 18, 2004
Dear Friends,
For the last few weeks, we have looked at various aspects of honesty. We would like to summarize by sharing many of the positive aspects to honesty. Obviously dishonesty must have many perceived benefits or it would not be so popular. However, we believe that honesty has more than its share of rewards too.
A benefit of honesty is YOUR NAME AND REPUTATION. Dishonesty has a short term benefit like spending money you don’t have. Do it too often and eventually you are bankrupt. Your name and reputation are one of the most valuable things you possess. We are told in Proverbs that “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.” (22:1) Since we are baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, how much more should we be careful of the name we represent?
There is a value to simply BEING BELIEVED. Have you ever been around a child that has a habit of lying? You have to grill them every time to make sure they are telling you the truth. It is unpleasant for them and unpleasant for you. Adults aren’t much different. We don’t tend to grill each other as adults but we tend to dismiss things that are told us by a habitual liar even if they are true. Yet, a reliable witness is believed even if the story being told is fantastic. Can we imagine the Apostle Paul traveling about preaching the Gospel but lying about things of no consequence? Who would ever have believed him concerning Christ even though it was true? As our message of hope is so vital to a dying world, it is paramount that we can be trusted in all things.
Another valuable benefit of honesty is a HEALTHY SELF IMAGE. Since we are made in the image of God, we are supposed to reflect His character. The more out of line we get with God’s character, the more pain we inflict upon ourselves. When we live honest lives, we can enjoy the fruits of our labor in all of their different manifestations with a clear conscience. We can enjoy our spouse, our money, our homes and our friends because they are gained by God’s grace and by honest methods. Ill gotten gains of any sort (not just money) bring discontent and trouble.
If for no other reason, the people of God should be honest because IT PLEASES OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST. Has anyone ever done things so wonderful for you that you are willing to go to great lengths to please them? Jesus died for us. God has given us His son, our very lives and all of the blessings in it. If we cannot return these gifts with the simple desire to do what they want us to do, we have further defined the word “ingratitude.” Honesty is well worth the effort if the only benefit to it is the pleasure derived from above.
Honesty’s greatest reward for those who are in Christ is the blessing of IMMORTALITY. There can be no greater reward than life beyond the grave in perfection and in the presence of God. If there are any momentary benefits to dishonesty, they pale in comparison to the “hope of Israel.” No one but a fool or someone who is completely uninformed would consciously chose the “pleasures of sin for a season” rather than the glorious wonders of the Kingdom of God.
There is little doubt that we can expect to lied to and defrauded as we approach the day of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, as the Scriptures say, let none of these things be named among us as believers.
Have a great week!
