Honesty reflects God’s nature and character. Josh McDowell offers ways honesty protects and provides for us and our kids in the world.

1. Honesty protects from guilt and provides for a clear conscience. Guilt is among the most powerful of emotions, and it will cling to the dishonest heart like a python, choking the life out of its victim. “My guilt has overwhelmed me”, claimed the psalmist David, “like a burden too heavy to bear.” Guilt deprives the dishonest soul of maximum joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Those who heed God’s standard of honesty will be protected from the burden of guilt; it allows a clear conscience and an unbroken relationship with God.

2. Honesty protects from shame and provides for a sense of accomplishment. A habit of honesty can protect a person from the embarrassment and shame that results when their deception is discovered. During the 1988 Olympic games Florence Griffith Joyner became the world’s fastest woman. In the same games Ben Johnson broke a world record. Afterward, it was discovered he had taken performance enhancing drugs. He was stripped of his medal and went home in disgrace. Cheating robs us from winning fairly and enjoying our accomplishments. Solomon said, “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare,” Prov. 21:6 It entraps the person in a cycle of dishonesty and the reward is short-lived, evaporating like a fog. We cannot take pride in a dishonest performance and the hunger for praise and approval becomes warped and grows.

Stay tuned for more protections from a habit of honesty. Family Night by the Book can help to instill godly character traits in your kids from the very first day. What are you waiting for?

Blessings,

Beth and Dr. Ron