The Virtue of Honesty

Text: Romans 12:17

(Relationships)

The value of relationships

Piece of wood alone versus piece of wood in the $1M home. The relationship gives the wood more value because it gives it a bigger purpose.
Solomon said this in Ecclesiastes that two are better than one.
- because they have a good reward for their labor (get more done with two because the work is DIVIDED, not subtracted. And the reward is MULTIPLIED, not added.)
- if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but if she’s alone, who picks her up?
if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him;
and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Solomon explains that the best things in life are the product of relationships. This is not just marriage, it is all relationships.
The nature of relationships
These connections are not made by a hammer and nails.
These connections are more sophisticated, more costly, and more valuable.
Let me read to you what Jesus said in Mark 3:31-35.
- Eight things are the basis for healthy relationships: honor, trust, openness (vulnerability or honesty), communication, affection, sacrifice (effort or compromise), partnership (fellowship), and reward. We’ll discuss respect or honor today.
- We’re talking about honesty today. It’s like openness and vulnerability.
- The Honesty Project and culture seeing relevance in Christian values

How you handle the truth

How do you respond when confronted with the truth about you (not your truth), but the truth about you?
How do you disperse the truth?
What do you do with when you find the truth?
Are you interested enough in truth to seek it out?
How do you handle things that reveal who you really are?
Isaiah said the truth is fallen in the street. As a nation, Israel had become fundamentally dishonest.
Honesty is a great policy, but like all virtues, the wrong motivation turns them into vices. I can be honest with you and say you have big teeth. In that case, my honesty is meant to hurt you. Virtues are a double-edged sword that Proverbs is great at mastering the use of by applying principles to the virtues.

Honesty with yourself about the truth

Do you accept the truth about yourself? Do you dismiss the truth about yourself? Do you ground your life in what is true or is there some other motivation?
Responsible to allow the truth to look at your life – John 3:20-21 …he that doeth the truth…
- No one believes they’re deceived. Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
- You have a duty to stop accepting your own untested thoughts and to lay them aside up against the words of God.
- This is openness and vulnerability.
In the parable of the sower, the good ground is an honest and good heart that receives the truth of the words of God and handles it properly.
- In doing so, the truth of God produces fruit.
- It is the exposure to light that changes your beliefs and behavior accordingly.
- If the truth has not been allowed to bear fruit in your life then you are not connected to God who is a spirit in the way you think you are.
- Truth makes you fruitful in the Lord; John 17:17-19
- Walking in truth produces the fruit of the Spirit which is joy – 3 John 4. In God, in you, and in others who love the Lord.
This honesty with the truth results in freedom
- Now God said, ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free…
- What is so wild about this is that honesty feels like weakness and it really is allowing yourself to be vulnerable. But that vulnerability leads to empowerment and freedom, liberation.
- 2 Corinthians 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Honesty with others about the truth

Honesty builds trust and it comes from a place of trust.
- Let’s consider a relationship with the God of the Bible.
- One thing we want to know is that God never lies. Why? Because lies destroy the ability to trust, while honesty builds trust.
Honesty with other people about the truth
Honesty about other people in relation to the truth
Honesty about yourself with others
Honesty with others should be pretty simple
- Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
- James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
- James explains that honesty with and about others becomes complicated when sin starts to take root. Sin stirs up these other motivations that are impure. I envy you therefore I’m going to lie about you. This is what happened to Jesus Christ.

Creating a culture of honesty

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
2 Corinthians 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.