It’s possible that it goes without saying in the Christian life that honesty is important, but the Bible has a lot to say about this topic so it would serve us well to pay attention. Before we might brush past the topic of being honest and assume that we are, let’s carefully reflect our hearts and character.
When we’re dishonest, it’s not just a matter of telling a lie, but rather, it reflects what’s truly going on within our heart. Likewise, when we don’t speak up for the truth or defend truth, that too can reveal something about ourselves that we want to be on guard against.
Either way, spending time with The Lord, praying, and reading scripture will always expose the dishonest areas of our heart and will lead us to repentance and obedience to Christ. I’d like to encourage you to spend time with God today, read over the scripture below, and pray asking God to remove the dishonesty in your life.
Here is what the Bible has to say with scripture on honesty:
Psalm 51:6 – Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Proverbs 19:1 – Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Proverbs 10:9 – Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
1 Peter 3:10-12 – For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Colossians 3:9 – Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.
Proverbs 13:5 – The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
Psalm 15:2 – He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.
Isaiah 33:15-16 – He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
Proverbs 24:26 – Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.
John 8:31-32 – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
What does the Bible have to say about other topics?