Mission Venture Ministries

For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. (2 Corinthians 8:21) 

A guilty feeling is a tool God uses to reveal sin. Guilt is the result of having violated a specific rule or law, and when we cross a moral, ethical, or legal line, we are guilty. 

So how do we handle guilt? Mankind has been trying to avoid dealing with this painful emotion for as long as humanity has existed. It all began in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and we’ve been using their flawed methods in an attempt to silence guilt ever since that time. 

Adam and Eve’s first reaction was to cover up rather than admitting their disobedience (Genesis 3:7), but as we know nothing can conceal sin from God. 

Next, they attempted to hide from the Lord (Genesis 3:8). Have you ever found yourself distancing yourself from God, avoiding prayer time and reading Scriptures because you don’t want to feel convicted? 

After disobeying Adam and Eve went on to refused to take personal responsibility and tried shifting the blame to others (Genesis 3:12-13), when each one of should be responsible before God for our actions, regardless of the circumstances or who else is involved. 

The Lord came to them fully aware of their guilt and asked several questions designed to bring them face-to-face with their sin, which is still the only way to deal with our failures. We must come to the Lord in confession and repentance so we can receive the forgiveness and cleansing Christ purchased for us on the cross. 

This kind of cover up can be found in many passages in the Bible: Aaron let the blame for the golden calf fall on the people (Exodus 32:21–24) and Saul tried to excuse his unlawful sacrifice on the justification that Samuel was late (1 Samuel 13:11–12). Excuses have been wreaking havoc since the beginning of time and will continue unless we realize that honesty and telling the truth are highly valued by God and are considered an integral part of a life of integrity and faithfulness to Him. 

The Mosaic Law commands that God’s people do not lie or deceive each other (Leviticus 19:11) or give false testimony about another (Exodus 20:16). The Psalmist describes the person whose walk is blameless and righteous as speaking the truth from the heart (Psalm 15:2). The New Testament echoes this when it connects honesty and truthfulness with the believer’s new life in Christ (Colossians 3:9). One of the first manifestations of the believer leaving the old self and putting on the new self in Christ is a commitment to honesty (Ephesians 4:24-25). 

The virtue of honesty is grounded ultimately in the character of God, that is, we are to be truthful because God is truthful. God never lies the Bible informs us (Titus 1:2), and both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are referred to as the truth (John 14:6, 16:13; 1 John 5:6). Similarly, God’s word is called the truth (Psalm 119:142, John 17:17). Honesty is a virtue because, like all the virtues, it is rooted in God’s nature. Telling truth is a moral principle to be followed because God is truthful, and we are called to emulate His character. 

When we stand for honesty, we believe in ourselves and everything we represent. When we stand for honesty, everything we say carries the voice of credibility. But, when we are dishonest, our soiled reputation will do the speaking for us. 

There are several things we can do to demonstrate honesty: 

• Think before you speak.
• Convey the truth and stand for what you say.
• Communicate in an open and honest fashion.
• If you have a personal a conflict of interest, let people know.
• Tell it like it is, rather than sugar coating it.
• Don’t shoot the messenger when someone tells you the truth. Thank them for their honesty and treat the information provided as a gift.
• Willingly accept responsibility by admitting a mistake.
• Hold people accountable when their words do not match their actions.
• Never compromise your integrity and reputation by associating yourself with people whose standards of integrity you mistrust. 

The truth shouldn’t be told only when it’s convenient. Honesty must be a way of life. Honesty means that we care deeply about being reliable, cherish our relationships, and value the importance of a solid reputation. Honesty means that we try to do our best and are willing to accept the consequences of our actions. Honesty means that we respect others enough to tell them the truth and to never live a lie. 

In summary, the biblical expectation is that we tell the truth. Above all, honesty is a virtue because; it is rooted in God’s nature. Truth telling is a moral principle to be followed because God is truth, and we want to be in a close relationship with God. 

The only way to approach the truth is to be a person who speaks the truth, remembering what the Lord commanded: “Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares the Lord” (Zachariah 8:16-17). 

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