Honest: November 18, 2011

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2011

HONESTY

DEFINITION:

Having a sense of honor; uprighteousness; sincere; truthful; genuine.

SCRIPTURE:

Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. Acts 5:4.

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. Psalm 12:22.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the book of Acts (above), God gave us a sobering example of how He views dishonesty. Some believers had sold their land and shared all the proceeds with the church. Ananias and Sapphira decided to do likewise. But the couple kept some money back declaring that they had given the whole amount to the church.

We need to note that the dishonesty was not that they did not give all to the church. The dishonesty was that they said that they gave all to the church. That was why God did what He did. Both Ananias and Sapphira expected commendation for their generous giving but instead God struck them dead for lying about what they did.

Some may say that God was too harsh. After all it was just a little lie and it was not life threatening to anybody. But in Proverbs 25:14 the scripture says that “Whoever falsely boasts of giving is like clouds and winds without rain.” The apostle Peter in Acts 5:3 asked Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” Peter strongly rebuked him saying, “You have not lied to men, but to God.” Peter’s strong words of condemnation leave no doubt about the seriousness of Ananias’s dishonesty.

One of the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses and to us, as well, is simply and clearly stated that we shall not bear false witness --- LIE. There are no degrees of honesty. You are either an honest person or a dishonest person.

An understanding of honesty begins when we recognize that God, who is our ultimate example, is truth and that He cannot lie. God hates falsehoods and makes it clear in the scriptures that Satan is the originator of all lies. He began lying in the Garden of Eden. In Proverbs 13:5 we read that a righteous man hates lying. In I Corinthians 13:6 we read that love rejoices in truth. People who trust the Word of God should be people whose word can be trusted. Where do you stand on honesty?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Hebrews 10:36.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

PRAYER:

Help me and my family today to be honest and true in all that we do and say. Give us the courage to do what is right and always tell the truth so that we can bring to the world we live in a glimpse of Your light and glory.