AP

Day 18: Dishonesty – part 2

Psalm 25:5 is the prayer of those who fear the LORD: “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” May we pray those words.

These proverbs show that a dishonest person acts in a devious way, covering his or her true intentions (Prov. 16:30). Dishonesty is associated with secrecy and that should sound an alarm in our minds whenever we try to keep our actions secret (Prov. 17:23). If we are hiding something, then we are not living honestly before God or others.

The proverbs speak realistically about life, telling us that bribes commonly achieve their purpose in a fallen world (Prov. 17:8). Yet, fearing the LORD we must reject all such ways and realise that speaking the truth saves lives (Prov. 14:25). In Acts 5, Satan filled the heart of Ananias and Sapphira so that they lied not to men, but God. Twice it says that God’s judgment upon them for their dishonesty caused “great fear” to come upon all who heard of it (Acts 5:5; 5:11).

A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

– Prov. 14:25

A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

– Prov. 16:11

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

– Prov. 16:28

Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

– Prov. 16:30

A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

– Prov. 17:8

A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

– Prov. 17:20

The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.

– Prov. 17:23

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

– Prov. 19:5

Father God, we thank You that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We thank you that all through Your Word You call us to reject dishonesty and walk in truth. Let us strive for complete honesty in all things.

Thank You for Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest who was honest in every way.

We pray in our Saviour’s Name,

Amen.

– Graham Barnes