Post by solitarysoul on Apr 25, 2007 21:18:33 GMT -5
"Honesty is Love" - Devotion for April 23rd, 2007
Today's Scripture
"So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another." - Ephesians 4:25
Today's Word
I've touched on this briefly in several other devotions, but I think it would be best to go a little more in depth with the importance of honesty and truth.
Dishonesty is a big problem today, perhaps even more so in the church. Most churchgoers are afraid of conflict within the church, so they gloss over issues or pretend to accept things that may be contrary to the Word of God if others are involved in such acts or behaviors. It is true that the purpose of the church is for unity among fellow believers, and therefore a church breaking apart is never a good thing. But sometimes we need to take a closer look at what exactly would be the best thing for protecting this unity.
When we know something needs to be said to someone, we tend to avoid it because we are too afraid of offending them. We would much rather create a false acceptance for what this person is doing than risk upsetting them and causing conflict.
However, here in Ephesians when the Bible says not to lie, it isn't merely reminding us of one of the Ten Commandments. It is discussing a very important issue for the good and unity of a group of believers. While it is much easier and tempting to avoid conflict at whatever cost when we notice a fellow believer practicing sinful behavior, it is not the loving thing to do.
Most people think that loving someone means you will do whatever you can to please them and make them happy. But sometimes loving someone can in fact cause pain. This is even evident in the Bible and all around us today. If loving someone meant to do everything in your power to please that person and keep them happy, then why is there suffering in the world today if God loves us and is all-powerful? All throughout the Bible and through testimonies today we see great examples of how people learned lessons, became emotionally and spiritually stronger, or grew in their relationship with God, simply as a result of painful situations.
Of course someone who loves you wants you to be happy, and of course it hurts them to see you go through such pain, but true love is about what is best for you, not necessarily what is most pleasing for the time being. If you have a friend who is on the wide path that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13), do you really think you love them by pretending to accept what they do? Look at it from this perspective. They may be happy now, but what if they end up in hell someday, while you could have easily done something to help them so that they may have gone to Heaven instead? Is that not worth the risk of offending them?
“Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter,” is a popular quote, which is only somewhat true. In some cases, quotes such as these can entirely deceive you of the truth. God made you in a unique way, different from everyone else. This saying holds true when someone has a problem with your personality. But personality and character is not the same thing. Personality is a unique part of you that identifies who you are as a person. Character on the other hand is the way you act, think, and behave. Your character does not determine who you are, and who you are does not necessarily determine your character. Your character is a matter of attitude and choice. If your character is contrary to Christ's character, or if you are indulging in sinful behavior, most likely those who do mind are the ones who love you the most, because they are most concerned about your own well being. If you say they don't matter, you're only harming yourself.
The Bible says not to judge and condemn, but this teaching is overused and pulled out of context. Whenever people hear something they don't like, they tend to throw this excuse at their “accusers,” ironically making them the one who is judging. When Jesus said not to judge, He was specifically telling people not to condemn others or hold their sins against each other, because we too have sinned as well. Therefore judging is actually closer to the act of being angry with someone or holding a grudge, than it is to politely confronting one another. The Bible says that as brothers and sisters, children of God, we are to speak the truth in love to one another, politely confront one another about sins and wrongs, and learn from each other. If you want a true friend, look for the one who will always be honest with you, even if they may risk hurting you by doing so (as long as they are nice and respectful about it).
Of course, being frank to others is no excuse to go around condemning and telling others whatever you want. In addition to being polite in these confrontations, the Bible says in Ephesians 4:15 to speak the truth in love. We should only do this out of love for others. If we are in a bad mood and just feel like being blunt to someone, that kind of honesty is not a loving act. Truth in love, as Ephesians 4 describes it, is when we politely confront one another when it comes to our attention that others are practicing sinful behavior. This does not mean however that we are to analyze one another looking for fault. That is judging. But when it is obvious that someone is practicing a sinful act, and we have a chance to say something to them about it, it is our responsibility as a Christian to politely confront them, for their own good. We also should equally be open to when others do the same for us. The reason for the confrontation should be nothing more than hopes of helping the other understand that what they are doing is against the will of God, and therefore it would be best for them in the long run if they stop.
Don't be afraid of conflict. Unfortunately sometimes conflict just cannot be avoided. There are those who simply just hold the title of being a Christian, and will scold you for confronting them. But an honest community is a loving community. It is much better to risk losing or offending a few now, than to ignore it and allow the entire union to fall apart down the road from a lack of honesty.
Copyright © 2007 T. Scott Morgan | www.the-daily-blessing.com
Please feel free to forward this message on as much as you like, as long as this copyright stays intact and the
devotion is not altered.
This devotion may NOT be redistrubuted for profit.
Today's Scripture
"So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another." - Ephesians 4:25
Today's Word
I've touched on this briefly in several other devotions, but I think it would be best to go a little more in depth with the importance of honesty and truth.
Dishonesty is a big problem today, perhaps even more so in the church. Most churchgoers are afraid of conflict within the church, so they gloss over issues or pretend to accept things that may be contrary to the Word of God if others are involved in such acts or behaviors. It is true that the purpose of the church is for unity among fellow believers, and therefore a church breaking apart is never a good thing. But sometimes we need to take a closer look at what exactly would be the best thing for protecting this unity.
When we know something needs to be said to someone, we tend to avoid it because we are too afraid of offending them. We would much rather create a false acceptance for what this person is doing than risk upsetting them and causing conflict.
However, here in Ephesians when the Bible says not to lie, it isn't merely reminding us of one of the Ten Commandments. It is discussing a very important issue for the good and unity of a group of believers. While it is much easier and tempting to avoid conflict at whatever cost when we notice a fellow believer practicing sinful behavior, it is not the loving thing to do.
Most people think that loving someone means you will do whatever you can to please them and make them happy. But sometimes loving someone can in fact cause pain. This is even evident in the Bible and all around us today. If loving someone meant to do everything in your power to please that person and keep them happy, then why is there suffering in the world today if God loves us and is all-powerful? All throughout the Bible and through testimonies today we see great examples of how people learned lessons, became emotionally and spiritually stronger, or grew in their relationship with God, simply as a result of painful situations.
Of course someone who loves you wants you to be happy, and of course it hurts them to see you go through such pain, but true love is about what is best for you, not necessarily what is most pleasing for the time being. If you have a friend who is on the wide path that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13), do you really think you love them by pretending to accept what they do? Look at it from this perspective. They may be happy now, but what if they end up in hell someday, while you could have easily done something to help them so that they may have gone to Heaven instead? Is that not worth the risk of offending them?
“Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter,” is a popular quote, which is only somewhat true. In some cases, quotes such as these can entirely deceive you of the truth. God made you in a unique way, different from everyone else. This saying holds true when someone has a problem with your personality. But personality and character is not the same thing. Personality is a unique part of you that identifies who you are as a person. Character on the other hand is the way you act, think, and behave. Your character does not determine who you are, and who you are does not necessarily determine your character. Your character is a matter of attitude and choice. If your character is contrary to Christ's character, or if you are indulging in sinful behavior, most likely those who do mind are the ones who love you the most, because they are most concerned about your own well being. If you say they don't matter, you're only harming yourself.
The Bible says not to judge and condemn, but this teaching is overused and pulled out of context. Whenever people hear something they don't like, they tend to throw this excuse at their “accusers,” ironically making them the one who is judging. When Jesus said not to judge, He was specifically telling people not to condemn others or hold their sins against each other, because we too have sinned as well. Therefore judging is actually closer to the act of being angry with someone or holding a grudge, than it is to politely confronting one another. The Bible says that as brothers and sisters, children of God, we are to speak the truth in love to one another, politely confront one another about sins and wrongs, and learn from each other. If you want a true friend, look for the one who will always be honest with you, even if they may risk hurting you by doing so (as long as they are nice and respectful about it).
Of course, being frank to others is no excuse to go around condemning and telling others whatever you want. In addition to being polite in these confrontations, the Bible says in Ephesians 4:15 to speak the truth in love. We should only do this out of love for others. If we are in a bad mood and just feel like being blunt to someone, that kind of honesty is not a loving act. Truth in love, as Ephesians 4 describes it, is when we politely confront one another when it comes to our attention that others are practicing sinful behavior. This does not mean however that we are to analyze one another looking for fault. That is judging. But when it is obvious that someone is practicing a sinful act, and we have a chance to say something to them about it, it is our responsibility as a Christian to politely confront them, for their own good. We also should equally be open to when others do the same for us. The reason for the confrontation should be nothing more than hopes of helping the other understand that what they are doing is against the will of God, and therefore it would be best for them in the long run if they stop.
Don't be afraid of conflict. Unfortunately sometimes conflict just cannot be avoided. There are those who simply just hold the title of being a Christian, and will scold you for confronting them. But an honest community is a loving community. It is much better to risk losing or offending a few now, than to ignore it and allow the entire union to fall apart down the road from a lack of honesty.
Copyright © 2007 T. Scott Morgan | www.the-daily-blessing.com
Please feel free to forward this message on as much as you like, as long as this copyright stays intact and the
devotion is not altered.
This devotion may NOT be redistrubuted for profit.
