What is honesty and why is it so important? What's wrong with a little white lie? The Bible actually has a lot to say about honesty, as God has called Christian teens to be honest people. Even little white lies to protect someone's feelings can compromise your faith. Remember that speaking and living the truth help those around us come to the Truth.
God, Honesty, and Truth
Christ said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If Christ is Truth, then it follows that lying is moving away from Christ. Being honest is about following in God's footsteps, for He cannot lie. If the Christian teen's goal is to become more God-like and God-centered, then honesty needs to be a focus.
Hebrews 6:18 - "So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie." (NLT)
Honesty Reveals Our Character
Honesty is a direct reflection of your inner character. Your actions are a reflection on your faith, and reflecting the truth in your actions is a part of being a good witness. Learning how to be more honest will also help you keep a clear conscious.
Character plays a big role in where you go in your life. Honesty is considered a characteristic that employers and college interviewers look for in candidates. When you are faithful and honest, it shows.
Luke 16:10 - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (NIV)
1 Timothy 1:19 - "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked." (NLT)
Proverbs 12:5 - "The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful." (NIV)
God's Desire
While your honesty level is a reflection of your character, it is also a way to show your faith. In the Bible, God made honesty one of his commandments. Since God cannot lie, He sets the example for all of His people. It is God's desire that we follow that example in all that we do.
Exodus 20:16 - "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (NIV)
Proverbs 16:11 - "The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness." (NLT)
Psalm 119:160 - "The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever." (NLT)
How to Keep Your Faith Strong
Being honest is not always easy. As Christians, we know how easy it is to fall into sin. Therefore, you need to work at being truthful, and it is work. The world does not give us easy situations, and sometimes we need to really work to keep our eyes on God in order to find the answers. Being honest can sometimes hurt, but knowing that you are following what God wants for you will make you more faithful in the end.
Honesty is also not just how you speak to others, but also how you speak to yourself. While humility and modesty is a good thing, being too harsh on yourself is not being truthful. Also, thinking too highly of yourself is a sin. Thus, it is important for you to find a balance of knowing your blessings and shortcomings so you can continue to grow.
Proverbs 11:3 - "Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people." (NLT)
Romans 12:3 - "Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." (NLT)
FAQs
Lying is always wrong. Colossians 3:9 says, “Lie not to one another.” Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are His delight.” These verses and many others teach us that God hates lying.
What does Luke 8:17 say? ›
ESV For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. NIV For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
What is Proverbs 12:22? ›
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight. 22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.
What is Ephesians 4:25? ›
ESV Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. NIV Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
What does God say about a lying tongue? ›
The word of God affirms this: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.” (Proverbs 19:9). It says: “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8).
What is a good quote on liars? ›
Top 10 Liars Quotes to Help You Spot the Truth
- “All liars … ...
- “A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood.” ...
- “The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that's also a hypocrite!” ...
- “To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies.”
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
What is Ephesians 5:11? ›
ESV Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. NIV Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
What is Jeremiah 33:3? ›
Jeremiah 33:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
'Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish. '
What is Ephesians 4/32? ›
One example comes from Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.” In this sentence, Paul has summarized the biblical message: that we are to be kind, compassionate and forgiving.
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
What is Ephesians 4/29? ›
[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. [30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
What is Jeremiah 30-17? ›
ESV For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion, for whom no one cares! '
What does Colossians 3/8 say? ›
ESV But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. NIV But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
What is Hebrews 3:13? ›
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
What is the sin for lying? ›
Biblical passages
One of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour"; for this reason, lying is generally considered as a sin in Christianity. The story of Naboth in 1 Kings 21 provides an example where false witness leads to an unjust outcome.
What does the Bible say about the consequences of lying? ›
"A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape" (Proverbs 19:5). "A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish" (Proverbs 19:9). Ultimately, liars will be judged and sentenced to eternity in Hell.
What Bible verse talks about liars? ›
Proverbs 19:9 - A false witness shall be punished, and a liar shall be caught. Proverbs 21:6 & 8 - A fortune made by people who tell lies amounts to nothing and leads to death. … But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest.
What does the Bible say about liars and manipulators? ›
Scripture warns us against both manipulating others and allowing ourselves to be manipulated. In Revelation 21:8, it is written that “all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” This shows that God's judgment is severe for those who engage in deceitful practices.
