## Honesty

## John 8:44

The Bible has a lot of significant instruction on honesty, examples of men and women that were honest, examples of men and weren't honest and things that happened to those that were and those that weren't. Remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira? They were dishonest with God and He killed them! Aren't we glad that He doesn't use that same technique today?

A recent survey noted that 91% of those surveyed lie on a regular basis. Here's a thought to ponder, "How do we trust a survey like that if 91% of them are liars?"

Every conversation, every phone call, and every interaction -- we have dozens and dozens of opportunities to be dishonest. Here are a few great American lies:

- The check is in the mail.
- The doctor will call you right back.
- It was good to see you.
- One size fits all.
- This hurts me more than it hurts you.
- Your table will be ready in just a minute.
- Pastor, that was a great message!

We are going to take a look at the problem of dishonesty and then focus on some practical steps that we can take to be men and women that move toward an honest life.

Dishonesty is promoted in our culture. Our culture endorses untruth, embraces untruth and practices untruth consistently. The residue of dishonesty is flying around everywhere. We have come to expect people to be dishonest. Isn't that sad? We expect a degree of untruthfulness in our political system. We expect that. We expect a degree of untruthfulness in advertising. We know over years and years of watching different advertisements that they lie to us. They are dishonest.

The one commercial that was actually honest about their dishonesty was Isuzu a couple of years ago. Joe Isuzu would stand in front and say, "This car gets 900 miles to the gallon and if you act now you can buy it for 9 dollars." All the time there's flashing on the TV screen, "He's lying!" Being honest about their dishonesty made their sales go up 20% with that campaign.

Dishonesty is present in our nature. Dr. Leonard Keeler, who invented the lie detector test, interviewed 25,000 people and he came to the conclusion that people are basically dishonest. At the core of humanity there is dishonesty. Those of us who have read the Bible, this is no surprise. We know that in the book of Genesis. We're told that dishonesty has plunged this world into the mess that it's in. The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Because we're all a part of a fallen race and we have wickedness that lives within us because of the fall, we have a resistance to truth. [3] It's not only in our culture and in our nature; dishonesty is part of our spiritual structure. You and I are the object of a cosmic spiritual battle. Basically it comes down to this. It's truth versus falsehood. The Bible tells us that God is the father of truth. The Bible also tells us that Satan is the father of lies.

(John 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Bible doesn't candy coat it, God is on one side and Satan is on the other. You and I have a choice, do we follow the culture or do we follow the creator? When it comes to God, He hates dishonesty. Dishonesty is repulsive to God.

Why does He hate it? Because He's the truth and dishonesty is a perversion of His character. God places a high priority and premium on truthfulness and He wants us to love honesty. Let's consider some practical steps toward honesty.

(Proverbs 23:23) Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

I. Take Inventory of Our Truthfulness.

We need to ask ourselves three questions:

- Where am I being dishonest?
- How am I being dishonest?
- Why am I being dishonest?

A. Let's look at "Where?"

1. We might be honest at home but we're dishonest at work.

2. Or vice versa.

3. Give some examples…

4. Two worlds collide

B. Let's consider "How?"

1. How am I being dishonest?

2. Little white lies? or fibs?

3. Stretching the truth…

4. Half-truths?

5. Being evasive?

6. Being silent?

7. Cheating?

8. Flattery?

9. Give some examples.

C. Let's talk about "Why?"

1. To protect ourselves.

2. To protect others.

3. To project an image.

4. To continue a charade or lie.

5. Give some examples.

II. Realize the benefits of honesty.

(Proverbs 13:21) Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

A. Honesty develops character.

1. There's a difference between character and reputation.

2. Reputation is what you think about me or what I think about you.

3. Character is what we are when no one's looking.

4. Honesty and integrity is when reputation and character come together and they're consistent.

5. Character is one thing we can take with us to eternity, while leaving it behind on earth.

(Proverbs 20:7) The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

B. Honesty develops spiritual maturity.

(Ephesians 4:15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

1. Dishonesty keeps me from growing.

2. Because I do not face up to my sin, and deal with it biblically.

3. When I'm honest and I deal with my sin the way God says in His Word, I am propelled toward spiritual maturity.

C. Honesty develops security.

1. If we practice honesty, it will be easy to keep things straight; but a liar has a hard time remembering all their lies.

(Proverbs 11:6) The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

2. Honesty provides security in my relationships, because people can trust me.

3. It provides security for my family and everyone around.

4. We lose that when we're dishonest.

III. Love God and pursue Him.

A. What does this have to do with honesty?

1. The more intimate I am with God, the more compelled I am to be honest.

2. If God is invading my life, it's very difficult to be dishonest.

3. If the Holy Spirit is residing in my life the Holy Spirit will send an internal signal to me when I'm being dishonest.

4. When I don't have an intimate relationship with God, I don't hear those signals.

5. It leads toward being a chronic deceiver.

(Psalms 51:6) Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

6. When I live in the presence of God, I'm compelled to be honest.

7. When I desire truth in the inward parts that is pursuing Him.

B. Pursue God in our lives.

1. When we are not satisfied with a casual Christianity…

2. But we want an honest relationship with Him.

3. Pursuing God will keep us honest, because He is Truth!

IV. Practice honesty.

A. This seems simplistic.

1. But on step toward an honest life is just to be honest.

2. Practice it.

3. Choose honesty in every area of our lives.

B. We can't practice it until we do the work of evaluation.

(James 1:22-23) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

1. James warns us against fooling ourselves.

2. Building our lives on these important values will require us to be determined.

3. We know we are supposed to be honest, but we have to look at our lives, and evaluate those areas…

4. James talks about looking in the mirror, but don't forget what we see!

5. Be doers of the word!

(Proverbs 2:7) He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

(Proverbs 11:5) The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

(Proverbs 12:19) The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.