Honesty

Honest

2Co 8:21

2 Corinthians 8:21 NKJV

providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Definition: Good, Valuable, or Virtuous

Honesty – being truthful, straightforward.

A.  Primarily deals with our words or communication

B.  A thief could be honest and say he stole the car.

(2 Co 8:21)      Providing for… to see before hand

A.  We should seek opportunities for good

B.  We should see opportunities that could look bad

-       Not only when God is watching but also before men that they may glorify God. In other words, they might see your good and honest works and be converted.

Rom 12:17

Romans 12:17 NKJV

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

-       Honest(good) things for evil things

Beware Of What You “Provide”

(Parable of the rich fool) (Luke 12:13-21)

-       Tell my brother to divide the inheritance

-       Jesus: “Who made me judge over you?”

V. 15-19

-       Became proud with the works of his own hand

-       Heart became full of pride and arrogance

-       He decided to REST. He quit working.

V. 20 – 21

-       “Whose shall those things be?”

-       “Thou hast provided”

Luke 8:15

Luke 8:15 NKJV

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

-       It is the man with an honest heart that obeys the word

-       When conviction comes, we must be honest or reject it.

-       An honest man will bring forth good fruit, and in time making him a man who is honest not only in a few things but a man of integrity who is honest in all things.

Difference between Honesty and Integrity:

Integrity – Goes beyond our words and encompasses your moral character

A.  Overall behavior, actions, principles

B.  It is a reflection of our consistent honorable life style

C.  A person of integrity consistently acts in alignment with their beliefs

Application:

A. When conviction comes be honest. Strive to be honest in all things. Honesty over time creates a person of integrity.

B.  A person with integrity would not have stolen the car because it goes against his nature to do so.

(Dishonest servant)

-Blessed are the servants who watch

- Master will serve them

-(Peter) do you speak to us or all?

Luk 12:42-44

Luke 12:42–44 NKJV

And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

-Jesus goes from “Servants to servant” making it personal to Peter

-        Jesus responding to Peters question.

-   Peter was to receive the keys to the kingdom

-    He was challenged to be honest and have integrity as the master was away

-   The faithful and wise steward would be greatly blessed and even served by his master

Luk12:45-46

Luke 12:45–46 NKJV

But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

-   Jesus warned that if that servant did not continue in honest and good works that the portion that he was given would be taken away.

-       The servant was not waiting on the Lord

-       The servant thought the work that he did would not be noticed by his lord because he was taking too long to come back. (Moses – golden calf)

-   Provide things honest in the sight of God and of men

Luk 12:47-48

Luke 12:47–48 NKJV

And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

-A man can not serve two masters

- the man who condemns his own conscience will be punished justly.

-but the man who knew his masters will, will have the greater punishment.

- honest before men and God, creating a man of integrity over time

The man who knows his masters will yet say “my master delays” will not be rewarded with a mansion or streets of gold – his reward will be many stripes.

Pro 21:3

Proverbs 21:3 NKJV

To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Honesty and Integrity are defining characteristics of a Christian and influence our interactions with others.

We must strive to be honest in our words and people of integrity in our actions