“HONESTY”
Recently I had to have my annual medical check-up. Knowing they do not like for me to eat beforehand, I did not have breakfast. Following the check-up, Janet and I went to Cracker Barrel to eat. By now we both are hungry. We placed our order and waited. The dining area wasn’t full, but there was a group of young people from a University (Their large tour type bus was in the parking lot). We continued to wait. Shortly our waitress came by and said, “I must apologize to you. I forgot to put your order in. Do you want to wait; I will put it in and ask for a rush; or if you prefer, you can leave.” We chose to wait. Of course, a plate of biscuits and jelly was brought quickly. You know, I appreciated that waitress. She was honest. She could have said, “You know, we are very busy with these students.” Or, “Our cooks seem to be very slow today.” She could have given several reasons but, no, she told the truth, “I forgot”. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone was honest?
Examples:
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT ATTENDING SERVICES. The scriptures teach us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). Wouldn’t it be great if folks simply said, “I just don’t like to attend worship? It’s boring! I don’t like to sing! I don’t like to get up on Sunday morning. So don’t expect me to be there except when I really feel like it. Maybe once or twice a month. And certainly not Sunday or Wednesday evening.” That’s not what you hear. What you hear is, “I really felt terrible Sunday morning. Oh, I had a job that needed to be finished. You know I really needed to get see my great, great, great aunt who has a hangnail and we haven’t seen her in a long time. You know she is getting older. Blah, Blah, Blah.”
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THEIR GIVING. The scriptures teach, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Cor. 16:1-2). Wouldn’t it be great if folks simply said, “I am stingy and I don’t want to give?” Or, “I want to purchase a new cell phone, TV, car, take an extra vacation, etc.?” No! What you hear is, “I’m not sure if I agree with the elders on how they spend the money.” Or, “I just don’t believe that we are to give a certain percentage. The Bible teaches me to give as I’ve been prospered but by the time I make my house payment, car payment, eat out, go to the movies, take my children to Six Flags I don’t have much left over.”
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY. The scriptures teach, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Wouldn’t it be great if people said, “I just don’t want to read the Bible, it’s boring. I would much rather read a novel or watch television.” No! What you hear is, “You know, the Bible is hard to understand.” Or, “By the time I get home from work, it’s late, we must eat dinner, besides I just can’t sit still long enough to read the Bible.”
Let’s be honest folks!
