Proverbs 24-Day 24
An honest answer
is like a kiss of friendship. Proverbs 24:26
For the first 30 years of my life, I struggled with honesty. I told the truth, but would exaggerate sometimes. It started with lies to my parents about who spilled milk on the floor in the kitchen, then where I was going on a Friday night. I would fudge the truth with friends on what colleges I was being recruited by to play basketball, I’d lie to professors when asked if I’d read the assignment they had given.
I graduated from college and went into ministry, but honest answers weren’t consistent. I’d lie about how many kids were at youth group. I’d lie to people I didn’t want to do dinner with and tell them I was busy. I’d tell people I didn’t get their message when I had listened to it and didn’t return their call.
My wife wasn’t spared from my stretching of the truth. I’d often tell her I’d be home at a certain time, and consistently show up late. I tell her we had the money to make a purchase when I knew if we spent the money it would have to be taken from another area. I’d over book our calendar and tell her I told her about a dinner we had to go to.
I rationalized my lies with “They aren’t really hurting anyone. No one will ever find out. They’re just exaggerations.” No one ever sets out to become a liar. No one ever sets out to not be trustworthy. No one ever dreams of having people question what they say because you have exaggerated so much.
I love how the Message translation puts this verse: “An honest answer is like a warm hug.” Truth is inviting. Truth builds up. Truth is the foundation of relationship. My prayer is that God would allow me to be a person of truth. That when I speak people feel the warmth of truth. When I say something people receive it as though they are hearing it from a friend.
How are you at truth telling? Is there lack of warmth in some relationships because you are withholding truth or stretching the truth? Who do you need to give a warm hug to this week by giving an honest answer?
Justin Davis
[...] Read More of this Post on our 31 Day Challenge Site HERE: [...]
This verse (24:26) is really interesting. I read this verse using several translations and most that I picked up compared an honest answer to a kiss on the lips! I realize there may be some cultural hurdles to overcome with this imagery, but I think the point is that there is a link between an honest answer and the intimacy that we each long for in a relationship. The more that we employ honesty & integrity, the deeper and more intimate the relationship can become.
Great post! I agree that often it isn’t the “big” lies that we get caught up in, but rather the little exaggerations or the little white lies that we don’t think will make a difference, but they do and they create a habit that spreads into other areas of life. Thankfully, the righteous man will RISE again!!
Proverbs 24:14- Wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Wisdom comes from the Lord and is a part of His character. If you find him and listen and do what he asks you have a future with hope. Hope means total confidence in the LORD and when you remain yielded to that hope it will remain in you and not be cut off. Remain in Him and He will remain in you. That is what I got from today’s Reading.
That same verse hit me today too. Especially when combined with the 28th verse, the Message paraphrase puts that one this way:
Don’t talk about your neighbors behind their backs—
no slander or gossip,
This past year I’ve been seeking God to help me change the way I live. I want my speech to be more simple, direct & honest. To say less and mean more. That I would have high credibility with my acquaintances, friends, and most of all my family. That I would refrain from repeating negative things about other people (gossip).
My honest answer to this post, “how many more days till this challenge will end?”