An Honest Woman

An Honest Woman- Lesson 3

Prov 31:10Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain

hon·es·ty (¼n“¹-st¶) n., pl. hon·es·ties. 1. The quality or condition of being honest; integrity. 2. Truthfulness; sincerity: in all honesty.

in·teg·ri·ty (¹n-tµg“r¹-t¶) n. 1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. See Synonyms at  honesty.

Q- What is the difference between someone who is honest and has integrity and someone who just does what is right?

A person who is honest and has integrity will do what is right because it is part of who they are, not because they knew if they were dishonest they would get caught. They will do what is right regardless of who is or is not watching.

An honest girl will be a valued friend, treasured wife, exemplary mother. Her husband will “safely trust in her”

Q- What is the opposite of honesty?

de·ceit (d¹-s¶t“) n. 1. The act or practice of deceiving; deception. 2. A stratagem; a trick. 3. The quality of being deceitful; falseness.

flat·ter·y (fl²t“…-r¶) n., pl. flat·ter·ies. 1. The act or practice of flattering. 2. Excessive or insincere praise.

Q- When might girls and women be tempted to be dishonest?

When they want someone’s approval, or are motivated by fear, personal gain, revenge, etc. They may resort to flattery, passing on unkind reports, deceitful backbiting, lying or hiding the whole truth from their parents or others.

We are being deceitful when we hide the truth or change the truth or misrepresent the truth. Flattery is also a form of lying. People often use flattery to get something that they want from the person they are flattering. The Proverbs tell us that lying is one of the things that God hates. It also hurts those that are lied to. God will also not let you get away with it. Acts 5:1-11 where Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, both died because they lied. God sees everything and He will not let us get away with a thing. Wventually, you will get caught.

 Num 32: 23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.

When we lie, we hurt others.

Prov 26:28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.

God hates lying.

Prov 6:16-19

16 These six things the Lord hates ,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.

Prov 13:5 A righteous man hates lying,

But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

Prov 12:17, 19, 22

 17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness,

But a false witness, deceit.

19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,

But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Q- What is the difference between honesty and just saying whatever you think or feel? You may want to ask yourself some questions before you say what you think. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful? Will it do my hearers good?

Q-Where do we get our standard of what is true and what is false? God’s Word, the Bible , is truth.Truth is important. What we believe impacts the way we live. There is an intimate connection of truth with character. Truth marks a standard of measurement. Truth is lacking in our culture. When truth is lacking, ungodliness increases.

Isa 59:14-15

14 Justice is turned back,

And righteousness stands afar off;

For truth is fallen in the street,

And equity cannot enter.

15 So truth fails,

And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

If you are interested in reading a missionary book that shows this truth then read Don Richardson’s book, Peace Child. This is a true story about a society that did not value truth, in fact they valued deception, and God’s redemption of that society. There is one place you can find the truth. God! The Lord Jesus Christ is The Truth. God is truth. He will never lie because He is unable to lie. Truth is embodied in the person of God.

Titus 1:1-3

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

Isa 65:16 So that he who blesses himself in the earth

Shall bless himself in the God of truth;

And he who swears in the earth

Shall swear by the God of truth;

Because the former troubles are forgotten,

And because they are hidden from My eyes.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

It is worth the price to get to know truth. We find the truth in God’s Word, the Bible.

Prov 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart,

Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and do not sell it,

Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

The truth frees you from slavery to sin, renews your mind, makes you a new person. We should study the truth so we will not be ashamed.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Eph 4:20-24

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

2 Tim 2:14-16

 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Q- Truth is in who? Jesus. Where do we find the truth? The Word of God, the Bible. We want to follow the truth and be godly. Godliness is God-likeness. Jesus Christ is our example. He is our redeemer. The Word of God, the Bible, is true. So we look to the Word of God and to Jesus in the Bible to find out what the truth is. In order to know the truth we need to know Jesus Christ and be steeped in the Word of God. When we follow the Truth, it leads to godly character.  When we turn away from the Truth it leads to wickedness. The Bible warns us that people will turn away from listening to the truth and will wander off to hear myths and things that tickle their ears.  

2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Q- What happens when we exchange the truth for lie? Romans 1 tells us that people knew God but they did not fear God and so they exchanged the truth for a lie and God gave them over to their depraved thoughts and they were filled with wickedness.

Rom 1:

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Q- Why does God hate lying? God is truth. It is His character. Truth leads to good deeds. Truth is according to godliness. Truth will triumph. God has called us to be godly women who uphold the truth. How do we do that? By His grace and because of His mercy, we will deny ungodliness and live righteously.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Titus 2:11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

We want to be honest godly women not to get more friends or so people will praise us, but because we want to glorify God. We want people to praise God because of our good works. We want all we do to point people to Jesus!