Question 1

Why is being honest so important?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 24:3-4Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.Honesty is important because to live in God’s presence requires honesty. It demonstrates inner purity, integrity, and a desire to do what is true and right.Proverbs 16:11The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.Being honest is important because God holds our actions to his standards of honesty.Proverbs 12:5The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.Matthew 12:33“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.”Luke 16:10“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”Being honest is important because our level of honesty demonstrates the quality of our character.1 Timothy 1:19Cling 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.Being honest is important because honesty brings a clear conscience.Deuteronomy 25:13-15“You must use accurate scales when you weigh out merchandise, and you must use full and honest measures. Yes, always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”Proverbs 11:3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.Dishonesty and deception are forms of bondage because they are needed to hide selfish motives. Honesty brings freedom from guilt and the consequences of deceptive actions.Romans 12:3Don’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.Honestly evaluating our walk with the Lord is the only way to keep growing in faith.

Question 2

Does honesty always mean telling everything I know?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 18:4Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.Proverbs 29:20There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.Ecclesiastes 3:7A time to be quiet and a time to speak.Colossians 4:6Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.Honesty should not be confused with gossip. Just because we know something doesn’t mean we have to tell everyone about it. Honesty also involves integrity. In our honesty, we should seek to be helpful and constructive, not cruel or eager to cause conflict. To withhold information that others don’t need to know is not deceitful, unless, of course, you are under oath in a court of law. Thinking before speaking is a wise habit to couple with honesty.

Question 3

What are the benefits of honesty?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 6:16-19There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.Proverbs 11:1The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.Proverbs 12:22The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.Proverbs 16:11The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.Proverbs 19:1Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.Proverbs 20:23The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.Honesty is essential for truth, justice, and trust in all relationships. Truth is revealed and justice carried out only when people are honest with each other. If we can’t trust friends and family members to be honest, our relationships will crumble from distrust and deceit.Psalm 15:1-2Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.Psalm 24:3-5Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.Jeremiah 5:3Lord, you are searching for honesty. You struck your people, but they paid no attention. You crushed them, but they refused to be corrected. They are determined, with faces set like stone; they have refused to repent.Honesty is necessary in a relationship with God. Dishonesty, a sin, keeps us from a close relationship with him and, in fact, puts us at odds with him.Psalm 51:6You [God] desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.John 14:6Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”John 17:17“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”Honesty prepares us to learn God’s ways. The definition of dishonesty is avoiding what it true. Since God is truth, we cannot become like him if we are in the habit of being dishonest.Psalm 24:3-5Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.Proverbs 28:10Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.Striving for honesty allows us to inherit God’s blessings. Dishonesty blocks our path to the blessings God wants for us.Psalm 36:10Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.Proverbs 28:18The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.Striving for honesty will help us experience the benefits of God’s justice and protection.Psalm 1:1-3Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.Luke 8:15“The seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”Those who strive for honesty recognize and experience the delights of obeying God.2 Kings 12:15No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.2 Kings 22:7“Don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.”Proverbs 12:5The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.Matthew 12:33“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.”Luke 16:10“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”Striving for honesty helps us develop a reputation of integrity. Consistent honesty in the past and present builds trust for continued honesty in the future.Proverbs 11:3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.Proverbs 11:5The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.Striving for honesty will guide us toward right living. Dishonesty will lead us astray.Deuteronomy 25:13-16“You must use accurate scales when you weigh out merchandise, and you must use full and honest measures. Yes, always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. All who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord your God.”Psalm 37:37Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.Isaiah 33:15-17Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong—these are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance. Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor, and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.Striving for honesty helps us to enjoy life because we can live at peace with God, others, and ourselves.

Question 4

What are the consequences of dishonesty?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 25:16“All who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord your God.”Psalm 101:7I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence.Psalm 119:163I hate and abhor all falsehood, but I love your instructions.Proverbs 20:10False weights and unequal measures—the Lord detests double standards of every kind.Romans 1:18God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.1 Timothy 1:19Cling 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.Because dishonesty is a sin, it always harms our relationship with God.Genesis 31:7“He has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm.”Dishonesty negatively affects our relationships with others. We cannot trust people who are dishonest.Proverbs 22:12The Lord preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.Not only will God not be a part of a dishonest plan, he will ruin the plan. We should check our plans for integrity before asking God to bless them.1 Samuel 25:3This man’s name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was crude and mean in all his dealings.Luke 16:10“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”A habit of dishonesty reveals a person’s character. Persistent dishonesty is a prediction of disaster, creating a future filled with lies and mistrust.1 Samuel 15:13-14When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!” “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.Proverbs 11:3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.Proverbs 12:19Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.Proverbs 19:5A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.Eventually dishonesty will be exposed.John 8:31-32Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”Dishonesty is a form of bondage. It traps us into hiding our true selves from ourselves and from others. Honesty brings freedom because it allows for forgiveness, vulnerability, positive change, and healing. Once we are honest about ourselves and our sin, the truth of Christ’s salvation can be accepted. This frees us to follow Christ away from the shackles of sin and shame, living a new life for his glory!

Question 5

How can I live honestly?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 139:23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.Proverbs 24:12Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.Romans 12:3Because 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.1 Corinthians 4:3-5As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.Honesty with ourselves is called self-awareness. This allows us to see ourselves in the way that God and others see us. To be self-aware takes empathy and humility. Empathy helps us understand how others may be experiencing our actions, and humility helps us admit when those actions are foolish or harmful. Humility should be rooted in our respect for God. Ultimately, only God has a perfectly clear and honest judgment of our thoughts and actions.Proverbs 27:5An open rebuke is better than hidden love!Proverbs 24:26An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.Zechariah 7:9“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.”Ephesians 4:15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.Ephesians 4:25So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.Colossians 3:9Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.1 Thessalonians 2:5Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!1 Thessalonians 2:10-11You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.Honesty—even when difficult—is a mark of a deep and loving relationship. To show kindness and encourage each other is good, but sometimes, a friend or family member needs to hear truths they may not want to hear. Perhaps some bad news that needs to be broken to a family member. Perhaps a friend is making a wrong decision. Perhaps a fellow believer is trapped in a cycle of sin and refusing to address it. Perhaps a family member’s sin is harming us and others. At these times, we should love those people enough to share those hard but necessary truths with them.Psalm 27:11Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.Psalm 32:2Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!Daniel 6:4Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.2 Corinthians 1:12We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.When we live lives of integrity, honesty becomes part of who we are. Criticisms and slander have a difficult time sticking to a life of integrity.Psalm 119:142, 144, 160Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true. . . . Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live. . . . The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.Proverbs 30:7-8O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.Luke 8:15“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.Praying and reading God’s Word helps us walk lives of honesty with God.2 Kings 12:15No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.2 Kings 22:7“Don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.”Proverbs 25:13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.Others will notice the honesty in our work, or the lack thereof. As Christ’s representatives, we should set the example for honesty.Leviticus 19:36“Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry materials or liquids must be accurate. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”Deuteronomy 25:13-16“You must use accurate scales when you weigh out merchandise, and you must use full and honest measures. Yes, always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. All who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord your God.”Ezekiel 45:10Use only honest weights and scales and honest measures, both dry and liquid.Hosea 12:7No, the people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales—they love to cheat.Our honesty in business dealings is a barometer of our true character.

Question 6

Is lying ever all right?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 20:16“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”Leviticus 19:11“Do not steal. Do not deceive or cheat one another.”Psalm 25:21May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.Psalm 101:7I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence.Psalm 119:163I hate and abhor all falsehood, but I love your instructions.Proverbs 6:16-17There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,Proverbs 12:22The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.Proverbs 13:5The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace.Proverbs 20:10False weights and unequal measures—the Lord detests double standards of every kind.Luke 16:10“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”The Bible is clear that lying is wrong. God doesn’t need or want or ask you to sin in order for him to accomplish his will. We must align ourselves completely with his absolute truth in our beliefs, words, and actions.