Lesson 36 Be Honest in All Things

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Everyone wants friends who are honest. Jehovah expects his friends to be honest too. But this is not easy in a world where many people are dishonest. What benefits come from being honest in all things?

1. What is the most important reason to be honest?

When we are honest with others, we show Jehovah that we love and respect him. Consider: Jehovah knows everything we think and do. (Hebrews 4:13)

[Quotation] Hebrews 4:13: And there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account. [End Quotation]

He notices when we choose to be honest, and he appreciates it. His Word states: “Jehovah detests a devious person, but His close friendship is with the upright.” (Proverbs 3:32)

2. What are some ways to be honest in our daily life?

Jehovah wants us to “speak the truth with one another.” (Zechariah 8:16 and 17)

[Quotation] Zechariah 8:16 and 17: “‘These are the things you should do: Speak the truth with one another, and the judgments in your gates must promote truth and peace. Do not scheme calamity against one another in your hearts, and do not love any false oath; for these are all things that I hate,’ declares Jehovah.” [End Quotation]

What does this mean? Whether we are speaking to our family, workmates, Christian brothers and sisters, or government officials, we do not lie or give misleading information. Honest people do not steal from others or defraud them. (Read Proverbs 24:28 and Ephesians 4:28.)

[Read scripture] Proverbs 24:28: Do not testify against your neighbor without grounds. Do not use your lips to deceive others. [End of Read scripture]

[Read scripture] Ephesians 4:28: Let the one who steals steal no more; rather, let him do hard work, doing good work with his hands, so that he may have something to share with someone in need. [End of Read scripture]

And they pay all the taxes that they owe. (Romans 13:5 through 7)

[Quotation] Romans 13:5 through 7: There is therefore compelling reason for you to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of your conscience. That is why you are also paying taxes; for they are God’s public servants constantly serving this very purpose. Render to all their dues: to the one who calls for the tax, the tax; to the one who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to the one who calls for fear, such fear; to the one who calls for honor, such honor. [End Quotation]

In these and other ways, we “conduct ourselves honestly in all things.” (Hebrews 13:18)

[Quotation] Hebrews 13:18: Keep praying for us, for we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things. [End Quotation]

3. What are the benefits of being honest?

When we have a reputation for being honest, others trust us. We contribute to the safe, familylike atmosphere in the congregation. We enjoy a clean conscience. Our honesty can also “adorn the teaching of our Savior, God,” and attract those outside the congregation to true worship. (Titus 2:10)

[Quotation] Titus 2:10: not stealing from them, but showing complete trustworthiness, so that in every way they may adorn the teaching of our Savior, God. [End Quotation]

Dig Deeper

See how honesty affects Jehovah and you, and learn how you can be honest in various situations in life.

4. Honesty pleases Jehovah

Read Psalm 44:21 and Malachi 3:16, and then discuss the questions that follow:

[Read scripture] Psalm 44:21: Will not God discover this? He is aware of the secrets of the heart. [End of Read scripture]

[Read scripture] Malachi 3:16: At that time those who fear Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance was written before him for those fearing Jehovah and for those meditating on his name. [End of Read scripture]

Why do you think it is unwise to believe that we can hide the truth?

How do you think Jehovah feels when we choose to tell the truth, even when it is difficult to do so?

[Image:] A child talking to her father who is kneeling at her eye level. A glass of juice has spilled down the side of a desk. Caption: When children tell the truth, they make their parents happy. When we tell the truth, we make Jehovah happy

5. Act honestly at all times

Many people believe that honesty is not always practical. But consider why we should be honest at all times. Play the video What Contributes to Joy? A Clean Conscience (2:32).

[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added by independent blind and sighted volunteers to assist those who are blind or have low vision]

[Click for Transcript]|[What Contributes to Joy? A Clean Conscience]
At the factory, Ben approaches a man who is using a computer to run a large machine]
Ben: Hey, Javi.
Javi: Hey, Ben. How are you doing?
Ben: Good. How’s the job going?
Javi: Oh, the machine is running great! Ben, I did have a question on the specs for the Harrison job. Can we take a quick look?
Ben: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Uh, let’s see here.
[Ben struggles to hold his coffee mug and open his folder]
Javi: You need a hand?
Ben: No, I’m good. I just . . .
[His coffee spills all over the computer, sparks fly, and smoke rises]
Oh, no!
[Another coworker comes over]
Colleague: What happened, guys?
[The machine grinds to a halt as the three men stare with mouths wide open]
Ben: We got, we got to do something!
Colleague: Um, disconnect . . .
Ben: OK. Yeah,
Javi: yeah, get it going.
[In an empty back room, the lights click on. The three men wheel in the computer and hunch over it as one of them checks it]
Colleague: Dead, I’m pretty sure it’s dead.
[Ben closes his eyes and puts his hands on his head]
Javi: I would just say that it stopped working.
Colleague: Whatever you do, don’t tell Victor what happened.
[Through the door's windowpane, they see a red -bearded man who is holding him up and staring at them. He walks away]
Javi: We just got this set up last month.
Ben: Why would it just stop working?
Colleague: It could happen.
[Ben leans over the computer]
Ben: Oh, you can actually smell the coffee.
[Ben shakes his head]
I’ll talk to Victor.
Javi: Don’t throw yourself under the bus, Man! We’ll help you get this cleaned up. No one will have to know.
Colleague: This is one of the most expensive units in the shop. If you take the blame, you’re just making yourself look bad.
Ben: No. It’s OK. It was a mistake. I’ll explain it. We need to get this back online.
[Ben walks out of the room as his co-workers shake their heads. The red -bearded man watches as Ben walks toward Victor's office. Outside Victor's door, Ben briefly closes his eyes and lowers his head. Ben enters the office and speaks with Victor. Victor leans back in his chair and puts his hands on his head. They keep talking, shake hands, and Ben leaves the office]
In the end, I think Victor actually appreciated my honesty.
[Outside the factory, Ben is sitting with the lunchbox]
And he wasn’t the only one.
[The red -bearded man approaches Ben]
Mark had some questions,
[Ben shows Mark something on his cell phone]
and we had a great discussion.
[They shake hands]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2020 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]

[Image:] A scene from the video What Contributes to Joy? A Clean Conscience. After Ben tells his boss that he made an expensive mistake, they shake hands.

Read Hebrews 13:18, and then discuss the questions that follow:

[Read scripture] Hebrews 13:18: Keep praying for us, for we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things. [End of Read scripture]

How we can be honest ...

with our family.

at work or school.

in other situations.

6. Honesty benefits us

Honesty may result in some problems. But in the long run, it is always the best policy. Read Psalm 34:12 through 16, and then discuss the question that follows:

[Read scripture] Psalm 34:12 through 16: Who among you takes pleasure in life And would love to see many good days? Then guard your tongue from what is bad, Your lips from speaking deception. Turn away from what is bad and do what is good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of Jehovah are on the righteous, And his ears listen to their cry for help. But the face of Jehovah is against those doing what is bad, To erase all memory of them from the earth. [End of Read scripture]

How does honesty make your life better?

[Image:] A husband and wife talking while having coffee together. Caption A: Honest husbands and wives strengthen their marriage Image B: A mechanic being commended by his boss in a repair shop. Caption B: Honest workers earn the trust of their employers Image C: A man in his car showing his identification to a police officer. Caption C: Honest citizens gain a good reputation with government officials

[Box]

Some People Say: “Some lies are so small that they don’t matter.” Why do you believe that Jehovah hates all lies? [End of box]

Summary

Jehovah wants his friends to be honest in all that they say and do.

Review

What are some ways to be honest?

Why is it unwise to think we can hide the truth?

Why do you want to be honest at all times?

Goal

Ask yourself, ‘Would Jehovah view me as an honest person?’ Identify any areas where you need to make adjustments. Set Other Goals

Explore

How can parents teach their children to be honest? Be Truthful (1:44)

[Click for transcript]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]

What benefits come from keeping our promises? Keep Promises, Receive Blessings (9:09)