In last week’s blog, we focused on the disposition of Integrity, noting that it encompasses the qualities of sincerity and moral uprightness. Today, I’d like to focus on the Disposition of Honesty, that is, being truthful rather than deceitful in all of our thoughts and words.

Honesty is not only a moral expectation for those who follow Christ, but it is also a reflection of God’s character. When contrasting God’s nature with the nature of human beings, Moses said,

“God is not a man that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19).

And when Paul wrote to Titus, he described God as One who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2), and the writer of Hebrews states categorically that it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). Indeed, God’s character reflects His honesty.

And if we are going to reflect God’s character, then we must also be honest in all of our thoughts and words. People who are consistently honest make accurate and trustworthy statements about life, oneself, others, and about God. Furthermore, no one can be honest without a commitment to the truth, which is just what Jesus did even in the presence of the hypocritical and deceptive scribes and pharisees.

As Jerusalem descended further into immorality prior to their fall to the Babylonians in 586 BC, the Prophet Jeremiah said,

“Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity” (Jeremiah 9:5).

Those of you who spend time reading the Scriptures will immediately recognize that honesty is one of the important teachings in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament Book of the Law, we find that the prohibition against lying is one of the Ten Commandments,

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).

And in the Book of Proverbs, King Solomon tells us,

“The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22).

And in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul encourages all believers to,

“. . . put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor (Ephesians 4:25).

“. . . stop lying to each other, since you have taken off the old self with its practices” (Colossians 3:9).

These verses, among others, highlight the fact that honesty is a virtue that is highly valued by God and is essential for building trust within all of our relationships and particularly, our relationships within the body of Christ.

It goes without saying that Honesty is foundational to living a godly life as it reaps blessings and spiritual fruit for those who faithfully practice it. Honesty is also a sign of the Spirit’s work in a person’s life, as it gives rise to truthfulness. Furthermore, living a life of Honesty reflects God’s very nature, and those who practice it are demonstrating their status a one of His children.  

Let’s keep in mind that honesty should always be accompanied by another previously discussed Disposition, namely Gentleness. An honest person is always motivated by love, not by an obsession to provide accurate information. And above all, the honest person is concerned with telling the truth about God and helping to nurture the spiritual growth of others.

May the Lord bless you this week as we all make a commitment to “put off falsehood” and “speak truthfully to one another.”

Blessings to all, Jim Price