How Honesty is Crucial || What is Integrity? || Week 2

Last week, we got to look at what integrity is and is not. This week I want to take a deeper look into what integrity is about: honesty. To be honest, means to be free of deceit and untruthfulness. We learned last week that being integral is about telling the truth at all times, even when it’s complicated. I want to dive into that even more today. Turn to Proverbs 12:22 to get this discussion started. 

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. 

Two obvious things need to be taken away from this verse. Lying is not a good thing in God’s eyes, and acting right delights him. Sounds obvious, right? We see the intensity Solomon uses when talking about this. Solomon calls lying an abomination. An abomination is a thing that causes disgust or hatred. So, lying causes disgust or hatred in God’s eyes. But why? Why is this such a tricky thing? Obviously, it’s one of the Ten Commandments, so shouldn’t that be enough. Solomon actually talks about this abomination earlier on in Proverbs. It’s in Proverbs 11:20. 

20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delights. 

The scriptural definition of an abomination is the attitude behind your words and actions. This even pulls from a verse earlier in Proverbs as well. Proverbs 6:16-19 talks about the “six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him.” Lying is equivalent to arrogance, revenge, evil, and argumentation. To me, this resembles things that can cause issues between different people via their words and actions. Honesty is the opposite of lying, so that would be avoided. Honesty is not something that is intended for revenge. Honesty, to me, seeks out peace between two parties instead of using it in a vengeful way. Honesty seeks to do good. Being honest may lead to more complex things happening between two parties, whether it’s discomfort, ending of relationships, or just overall separation between two parties. Honesty still acts as a positive measure to ensure both sides of the conversation clearly understand each other’s perspectives.

Short and sweet blog today! YAY! There really was much to go on about regarding the importance of honesty. It feels like it’s a really self-explanatory concept that I don’t need to go on and on about. So in closing, be honest with each other. It will be challenging at the moment but manageable in the long term.