character matters: honesty

Honesty

No one appreciates a liar, not even other liars.  Be honest in every word from your mouth; speak the truth in all things.  Avoid exaggeration and embellishment; don’t make more (or less) of yourself or of a given situation.

“He who speaks truth tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit.”  Proverb 12:17 (NASB)

 You are who you are; embrace yourself and allow others to accept you without surprise or disappointment.  Admit your faults when needful; be accountable for your actions without reservation.  Accept the consequences of your actions, good and bad.  Allow your successes and your failures to mold and shape you into the person God intended you to be.

 “Honesty is a direct reflection of your inner character.” ~ Kelli Mahoney

 We all desire to be admired and respected.  The people in your life will respect and admire your honesty and will be drawn to your good character.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22 (NASB)

 

A person who always speaks truthfully does not have to try to remember what he has told someone as his story never changes.  A liar is unusually transparent to others; no one has a memory good enough to hang onto various versions of their story.

 

^“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds success in store for the upright; he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” Proverb 2:6-8 (NIV)

urgently meeting the needs of others

KLOVE gave us this verse in their "Encouraging Word" daily email last week:

"Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive." ~ ~ Titus 3:14, NLT

"... meeting the urgent needs of others ..."

Frequently I over analyze the needs of others brought into my view, allowing opportunities to pass that should have bless someone else, and bless me in the giving.  I learned long ago that giving is far beter than receiving, but I still struggle to hold on to that which is really not mine to begin with.

"Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God.   I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, And your burnt offerings are continually before Me.   I shall take no young bull out of your house Nor male goats out of your folds.  For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills.  "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.    If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.   Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats?  Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me."

~ Psalm 50:7-15 NASB

He owns it all.

Ask those who know me well and most will likely tell you that I am a "giver".  Far too frequently, however, I pick and choose, I analyze, I weigh my cost before I let go.  That's not what God tells us and that's not a strong show of trust in Him who provides.

Every time I have had an urgent need, that need has been met, provided by God, through the hands of others or through purposeful circumstance.  Shall I do less with the resources God has entrusted to me?

No, it's not always easy.  There are many times when I choose to hold on to "mine"  because I have a personal need or desire and I don't let go to avoid cutting myself short.  That's an understandable human reaction, but I'm supposed to be "led by the Spirit".

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.   For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."   But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.   For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.   But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."  ~ Galatians 5:13-18

Maybe if I spend less on my "desires of the flesh" I will not cling so tenaciously to that which might be handed over.  Maybe if I spend more time "counting the cost" before spending and less time acting on personal whimsy, I might do more with far less for myself.

I certainly don't have all the answers.  I don't have unlimited resources, but my Father does and I should trust Him to provide through me to those in need.

Our God measures out to us that which He knows we can be entrusted to steward for Him.

Acting in good stewardship and avoiding foolish behavior,  perhaps I may always be ready when an "urgent need" is before me.

"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." ~ Luke 6:38

Father, help me by moving my selfish desires, my "knowledge", my flesh, me, out of Your way. Move in me to meet the urgent need of others.

We are made to be a blessing and to be blessed.

I have a friend in need; in crisis need of financial assistance and, even more importantly, in need of knowing how much God loves her and her family, how very much He cares for them and watches over them.

She told me that she "was not worthy" of God's intervention. I agreed with her that she was indeed not worthy, as none of us are, but that she is deserving. She is a child of the Most High God, a princess to the Throne of Mercy and a partaker of The Promise! She is a member of a HUGE family of believers and that a primary purpose of this family is to lift each other up in times of need, in times of distress, in times of want. It is this Family of God, that is close by to rejoice with us in times of gladness and holds us steady in times of seeming despair. Father made us for each other and we are not ever alone in Christ.

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans 8:14

"Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."   Galatians 4:6-7

She told me that "God helps those who help themselves". I assured her that this was not a Biblical teaching, but instead that God helps those who turn to Him in times of need. God helps those who have come to the end of themselves and who turn it all over to Him; God helps those who are His. God wants us to depend on Him, not to depend on ourselves; in ourselves we find idolatry, in Him we find Comfort.

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."   Hebrews 4:16

We called on the Family to assist our friend in this time of need and what a joy it was to watch our family of believers respond in cheerful giving and service! What a joy it was to see His heart, to be His heart and to be His hands and feet!

God gives to us so that we may give to others. We are blessed by blessing.

I remember a time of personal need when some unknown gave and my wife and I were sent on a well needed time to ourselves. I remember a time of personal need and upon opening my mailbox finding a $100 bill, quietly tucked into a Christmas card from an unknown giver. I remember a time of late night shopping for two families in greater need, and coming home to find two large boxes of food on our own doorstep.

I remember a time when I was not in God's Family, when I depended on myself, and I rejoice that I am now His! Oh, how wonderful it is to let Him care for me and for my family!

Let's take some time and reflect on that Hope we have in Jesus. That Hope that binds us together and enables us, through His Spirit, to step outside of ourselves and into the lives of others. Let's give to each other, not just money, but self. Let's give and then look for ways to give some more. Let's find someone to bless and then bless their socks off!

Father God, help me to lay myself down that I may be better able to help pick someone else up.

"Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God"

Be a blessing and be blessed, in Jesus' Name,