Is honesty REALLY worth it?
We grew up taught to be honest, no matter what, honesty is the best policy! So how is it then that whenever we are honest our honesty is crucified and those who lie, get away with it EVERY TIME?
This was just a casual thought of mine spurred by what I had observed at school, but now it seems to be a fact lurking in every corner of my life; at school, TV, books, friends, even at home. Could it be that honesty is only called for when the result of your honesty will not implicate you in some way or another? No, this can't be! If it is so then everything I believe in is a lie, a complete and horrific lie! This can't be because I know and believe everything I stand for wholeheartedly!
This still, however, doesn't explain my predicament: Honesty vs. Dishonesty. I know that good will be rewarded at some point in one's life, but what puzzles me is the fact that good people, godly people, can ignore your good deeds and overlook your efforts to live honestly. It's somewhat of an ironic situation. You think to yourself : "I'm gonna be honest, because it's the right thing to do and then surely I'll be rewarded for my honesty."
Take this example: A little boy runs down the passage to the kitchen, because he doesn't want to be late for supper, on his way he lightly brushes his mother's favourite vase, causing it to shatter into millions of pieces. He pauses, stares at the pieces laying on the ground, and his first instinct is to pretend like it never happened and blame someone else. Then, his conscience gets the better of him and he continues down the passage to the kitchen. Shaking at his knees, he admits to his mother that he broke the vase because he was running down the passage. His mother raises her hand and slaps him across the face. "Johnny, you know that you are not allowed to run in the house! What were you thinking? That the vase was made of plastic and wouldn't break??" was his mothers second response. Poor Johnny, with tears streaming down his face, shrugs his shoulders and replies, "Mom, I didn't want to be late for our once-a-week family dinner.". Johnny receives his punishment and is sent to bed with a clean conscience but an empty stomach. Shame. This is the sad story which many honest teenagers live today.
We ask ourselves so often whether honesty really is the best policy when it seems like a short-cut to a punishment, in some cases honesty may even result in your death sentence. Now, the honesty I'm talking about here is honesty with good intentions, the kind of honesty that sets you free and has other people's interests at heart.
OK, so this post is quite depressing and for an honest person it may leave you feeling hopeless and pathetic for buying into the "lie" that honesty is in fact the best policy. I was encouraged by Proverbs 11:3 - "Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people." and Psalm 15 - "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken." . So next time you see someone get away with a lie, just remember that his/her destruction is near and your reward is even nearer!
Read more about being an honest teen here!! (click)
This was just a casual thought of mine spurred by what I had observed at school, but now it seems to be a fact lurking in every corner of my life; at school, TV, books, friends, even at home. Could it be that honesty is only called for when the result of your honesty will not implicate you in some way or another? No, this can't be! If it is so then everything I believe in is a lie, a complete and horrific lie! This can't be because I know and believe everything I stand for wholeheartedly!
This still, however, doesn't explain my predicament: Honesty vs. Dishonesty. I know that good will be rewarded at some point in one's life, but what puzzles me is the fact that good people, godly people, can ignore your good deeds and overlook your efforts to live honestly. It's somewhat of an ironic situation. You think to yourself : "I'm gonna be honest, because it's the right thing to do and then surely I'll be rewarded for my honesty."
Take this example: A little boy runs down the passage to the kitchen, because he doesn't want to be late for supper, on his way he lightly brushes his mother's favourite vase, causing it to shatter into millions of pieces. He pauses, stares at the pieces laying on the ground, and his first instinct is to pretend like it never happened and blame someone else. Then, his conscience gets the better of him and he continues down the passage to the kitchen. Shaking at his knees, he admits to his mother that he broke the vase because he was running down the passage. His mother raises her hand and slaps him across the face. "Johnny, you know that you are not allowed to run in the house! What were you thinking? That the vase was made of plastic and wouldn't break??" was his mothers second response. Poor Johnny, with tears streaming down his face, shrugs his shoulders and replies, "Mom, I didn't want to be late for our once-a-week family dinner.". Johnny receives his punishment and is sent to bed with a clean conscience but an empty stomach. Shame. This is the sad story which many honest teenagers live today.
We ask ourselves so often whether honesty really is the best policy when it seems like a short-cut to a punishment, in some cases honesty may even result in your death sentence. Now, the honesty I'm talking about here is honesty with good intentions, the kind of honesty that sets you free and has other people's interests at heart.
OK, so this post is quite depressing and for an honest person it may leave you feeling hopeless and pathetic for buying into the "lie" that honesty is in fact the best policy. I was encouraged by Proverbs 11:3 - "Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people." and Psalm 15 - "LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken." . So next time you see someone get away with a lie, just remember that his/her destruction is near and your reward is even nearer!
Read more about being an honest teen here!! (click)
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