Not telling the truth is an age-old problem. It began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve lied to God, and it has continued to this day. From the White House to the schoolhouse, lying and deception are more common than truthfulness and honesty. What is it that makes humans desire to deceive one another? Many people lie to stay out of trouble. Some deceive by pretending to be something they are not, in order to impress others. It usually comes down to the presence of sin. That is why Adam and Eve lied. Human pride desires to be seen in the best light or to have the best things, and most people try to cover their weaknesses or get what they want by dishonesty. Because of this, there has never been a needier time for boys and girls to practice honesty.
As parents, how can we influence our children to live honestly? There are so many biblical principles that result in honest living, if we can just turn them into habits and lifestyles. Here are a few of those timeless principles:
Lying leads to captivity. It is never okay to lie, even if lying looks like it will get you out of a problem. At times, you may think there is no other choice but to lie. Lying may actually get you out of a jam for now. Your parents may believe the outlandish story you tell them, and your lie may point the finger at someone else. However, when you choose to lie, causes inevitable problems for you and others. Even though your lie or continual lying may not be punished right away, and you may think you got away with it, the truth will come to light. Then, the end result will be so much worse than telling the truth would have been.
The truth leads to freedom. An honest person has nothing to fear and freedom to enjoy. An honest person does not have to worry about having to tell lies about his lies. Also, an honest person can be counted on to tell the truth when asked what happened.
Telling the truth will be rewarded. Therefore, do not be afraid to tell the truth. If your sibling or friend is doing something dangerous, like playing in the street or lighting matches, do not be afraid to tell him to stop. Hearing the truth from you might save his life. If someone you know is doing something illegal, like breaking windows or stealing from the store, go to him and tell him he needs to stop what he is doing and confess what he has done. He might be mad at you today, but getting it taken care of right now might save him from going to jail when he gets older. Likewise, if you have done something wrong and your parents or teacher confront you about it, tell the truth right away instead of hiding what you have done.
There are further consequences for not telling the truth. When you lie, God cannot have fellowship with you. By telling the truth, you allow the Lord to continue to speak to you. Having a relationship with God is the greatest reward of honesty. If you are feeling guilty about something you have done and are trying to hide it, tell the truth and come clean. The heavy guilt you feel is worse than the consequences you will face. You hurt yourself more by being dishonest than you would by suffering the consequences for something. Most are more afraid of getting in trouble or losing a friend than telling the truth.
God’s rewards are better than what you think your reward should be. Do not expect to be patted on the back just because you tell the truth. It may initially seem like life gets worse by your being honest, but God has noticed and will reward you in time. When you are tempted to lie, remember God is watching and will bless you for being honest. You may get a reward for turning in a lost wallet or purse; however, even if there is no reward, God saw that you did the right thing, and that is most important. Though you may be offered rewards, tell the truth because it is the right thing to do.
MEMORY VERSE
“Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” II Corinthians 8:21