In his book, “Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am?” John Powell gives a clear, easy to understand answer: “You may not like me.” We might also add, “or what I do.”

Most of us want to be “liked.” And most of us will do whatever it takes to create an image - no matter what it takes - to get others to like us. Even if we have to be dishonest, or to be a little more blunt, lie.

Deceit comes from being human. We do our very best to hide who we really are for fear of being “found out.” We cover ourselves with clothes that hide our real shape. We color our hair to hide the grey that comes with age. We “plaster” our faces with make-up to fill in the “lines.” We use clever words to deceive others about our actions and feelings. We refuse to look into the eyes of someone if we are less than honest. Actually, the list could go on for pages.

Those of us who know God know that honesty is most important to Him. He knows who we are and that honesty is a problem that originates in our hearts. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” is a question posed by the prophet Jeremiah. It was relevant then and continues to be relevant to this very moment.

And the answer then and now remains the same: Only God knows us perfectly and what can be found in the depths of our hearts. We may deceive ourselves and others, but not God. Self-righteousness comes from self-deception. So, “A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

As a child I often sang, “He sees all you do and He hears all you say…My God is writing all the time.” God knows where the “seeing” and “hearing” comes from and He can make it clean!

Prayer:  Please, Father, help us not to deceive ourselves. We know You love us and understand us. Come cleanse us now! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 21:2 A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.

Solomon refuses to let us forget the theme of Proverbs. So, once again he reminds us of its significance and then demonstrates how we are to apply it to our daily activities and its effect on our present life and ultimately our life with Him in eternity. “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” Perhaps a more accurate and easily understood way to translate this verse is “The fear of the Lord is life indeed!” Life, when lived in this manner means that those who accept and live life the way God designed it to be “need never fear the Lord.”

It is easy to lose sight of what God intended life to be. If we look at life the way God created us to be a reflection of His image, we will more likely than not discover that it is quite different from how we plan to live. It is not “adding” the fear of God to our lives, but living life as God specifically designed it to be and being afraid of not meeting His expectations. God created man to have a “divine dimension” above and beyond our “humanity.” God intended our manner of living to be evident and obvious to others.

First, God “designed” us to be devoted to Him alone. He is at the center of our “soul” - the sum total of our life - including our feelings, thoughts and actions. Everything we think and feel and do are all focused on pleasing Him. We are dedicated to building His Kingdom on earth by using the gifts and talents He has given us to honor Him. It is living life in, through and for Him.

Secondly, whatever we do proceeds or has its origins in Him. Others see His character in us: His love and grace, mercy and forgiveness; His compassion and comfort and care of and for others. We will do His work in His world by doing His will.

Finally, we do these “things” by applying His wisdom to our lives and following His guidance every moment of every day.

Prayer:  Lord, all this must seem impossible. But it is possible if we surrender our lives to You and follow Your leadership. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 19:22 What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.

There is a theme throughout the Old Testament that needs constant attention: God will not tolerate business practices that are dishonest, false or even questionable. It has its roots in the Law, is emphasized by the prophets and has a place of prominence in Wisdom Literature.

In Biblical times the phrase “dishonest scales” was used and meant “scales of deceit.” Also used was the phrase “a just weight” or “an accurate” or “perfect stone.” Merchants used “stones” as measures in place of coins and conducted their businesses by using  balances and weighted stones. It was common knowledge that merchants had two sets of stones: one for selling and one for purchasing goods. When purchasing products for selling, they would use the heavier stone to gain an advantage over the person who was selling them goods to be resold. When selling their product, they would use the lighter stone, which resulted in the customer getting much less than what was paid for. Each stone was labeled so the merchant knew he had the advantage. 

This type of business was an “abomination to the Lord,” was unacceptable to Him and one He would not tolerate. On the other hand, “an accurate weight” finds “favor with Him.”

This comes as no surprise to His faithful. God finds favor in those whose character is consistent with His ways and His Word and live in agreement with  His will.

The lives of those who profess to be His followers are under His surveillance. He will honor their faithfulness!
 
Prayer:  Convict us, Lord, when we are less than honest in any of our ways. May we live lives that honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 11:1 The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.

One of the traits that made Harry S. Truman a great president was his honesty. In fact, it was more important to him than the presidency.

During the presidential campaign against Thomas Dewey, his staff notified him that his campaign funds were running low. When one of his supporters was given this information, he approached Truman and said, “I’ll give you what you need if, when you become president, you will use your office to get policies in effect that will benefit me.”

“Give your money or keep it,” said Truman, “but I’m not making any deals.”

His response electrified his staff and they began to work harder than ever. As a result, the money coming into his election committee increased dramatically and Truman went on to win the election.

We read in Proverbs that, “The Lord hates cheating, but he delights in honesty.” That is about as straight forward as it gets. And there is no way to get around it.

Honesty is very easy to measure: We are either honest or we are not. We either tell the truth or we lie. There are no “degrees” in honesty. We can’t be 99% honest or 1% honest or somewhere in between. It’s 100% or nothing.

Honesty is basic to a Christian’s integrity.

Prayer: It is so easy, Lord, to compromise the truth when we want to fulfill some worldly desire. Cleanse us from deceit and fill our minds and mouths with truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 11:1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.

Thomas Edison discovered that his factory had produced a battery that was faulty. As soon as the discovery was made, he immediately took action. He began a large advertising campaign informing people that he would give a refund to everyone who purchased a defective battery. Although the cost was one million dollars, it did not compare with the value he placed on his name.

It is critical for Christians to have an honorable name. Whatever we do, whatever we say, wherever we go we are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we fail to live lives of integrity our witness will be damaged, our message questioned and our testimony impaired. And when that occurs, God’s name is damaged and His message becomes worthless.

Being honest and forthright in everything will eliminate our need to worry about being exposed or not living up to what God expects of us. He calls us to live lives that are in harmony with His Word, to follow Him and His eternal directions carefully and to ask Him to place a guard over our speech so we will not say things that are untrue, hurtful and harmful.

Prayer: Father, we ask that You will be at work in us and through us that we may represent You faithfully. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1

In 1927 many businesses had difficulties that forced them to close. One was an insurance company in Savannah, Georgia. There were more than 500 stockholders who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The owner, a man named Mercer, and his son, promised to repay each one of them.

Twenty eight years later the final debt was paid. Even though the father had died, the son paid each debt in full.

The son had become a song writer and it was one of the songs he wrote that enabled him to pay the debts. The songwriter was Johnny Mercer and the song was “Accentuate the Positive.”

Choosing to do the right thing is often difficult, even painful. There are times when it means the loss of money, even doing without things that we may want or need. We may have to give up a friendship or confront something that is wrong in ourselves or another whom we love. Whatever it takes to keep and maintain our integrity is choosing to do what God would have us to do. Knowing what is right is never as important as doing what is right.

Prayer: Lord, may we always honor You by honoring our word and living open and honest lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:17

One day a friend baked me a cherry pie. While enjoying the second piece, my teeth came down on a cherry stone. When I reached for it, I also found a broken tooth. While nursing the pain, I thought on Proverbs 20:17.

“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.” Cheating or being fraudulent in any way may get a person ahead, but only temporarily. Dishonest gains are not only found in big corporations with million dollar transactions. God is also aware of the small things. What do you do when you are given too much money back at the cash register? Are you ever tempted to be dishonest at work with your time sheet? Even if dishonesty helps one to succeed in the eyes of the world or increases ones wealth, it is really worth nothing at all. Only the things of God have real worth and are valuable and everlasting. It is also important to know that even if we succeed in fooling the people around us, God still knows our actions and our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be honest in everything I do, whether in my work day, my personal finances or in my relationships. Forgive me where I have failed and help me to make right what ever offense I have committed. In Your Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 20:17