God demands total honesty
But those who deal truly are his delight".
Moral integrity is defined as the quality of a person that conditions it and gives it authority to make decisions about its behavior and resolve situations.
Why does God demand integrity in our lives?
1.- Because one of the attributes of God is that He is the truth (1: 1:15) "but, as he who called you is holy, be ye also holy in all your way of life."
2.- Because we can not be dishonest and love God. Proverbs 14: 2 "He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord;
But the one of perverted ways despises it ".
3.-Because we can not be dishonest and love our neighbor. (Romans 13: 9-10) "For: Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, and any other commandment, in this sentence is summed up: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Love does not harm our neighbor; so the fulfillment of the law is love. "
4.- Because honesty lays the foundation for an effective evangelization. (Phil 2:15) "that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as luminaries in the world"
5.- Because honesty confirms that we are walking where God wants us to do it. (Proverbs 4: 24-26)
"Put away from you the perversity of the mouth,
And remove from you the iniquity of the lips.
Your eyes look straight,
And direct your eyelids towards what you have in front of you.
Examine the path of your feet,
And all your ways be straight. "
6.- Because it shows where we are standing in our spiritual life. (Luke 16:10) "He who is faithful in a very little, is faithful also in the most, and he who is unjust in a very little is also unjust in the most."
How can we avoid being dishonet?
1.- Subjecting ourselves to the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:16 "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and do not satisfy the lust of the flesh."
2.- Having a healthy fear of the discipline of God. (Hebrews 12:11) "It is true that no discipline at present seems to be a cause of joy, but of sorrow, but afterwards it yields a peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised therein."
- Surrounding yourself with honest people. (Proverbs 29:24) "The accomplice of the thief hates his own soul;
Well, he hears the imprecation and does not say anything. "
What should we do in the face of dishonesty?
1.- We must restore our communion with God. (1 John 1: 9) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2.- We must return to his own owner everything that has been dishonestly received (Leviticus 6: 4) "then, having sinned and offended, he will restore what he stole, or the damage of the slander, or the deposit that is entrusted, or lost what he found ",
What are the blessings and curses associated with our behavior?
- God promises certain blessings for being honest. (Proverbs 3:22) "And they shall be life to your soul,
And thanks to your neck. " - God has curses reserved for the dishonest. (Psalm 101: 7) "The one who commits fraud will not live in my house;
He who speaks lies will not assert himself before my eyes. "
God wants the education of our children.
How do we teach our children?
1.- Teach them verbally. (Deuteronomy 6; 6-7)
2.- Teach them by example. (1 Corinthians 11: 1)
3.- Enseñales making them participate.
Excellent reflection, @elion. Certainly these profound words of exhortation should make us reflect on honesty (Psalm 101: 7) "He who commits a fraud will not live in my house;
that speaks lies will not be asserted before my eyes. "
Thanks for sharing