by Brandon Michael Davis

Created on: June 16, 2007

Honesty is always best, even when difficult.

It is a display of good character to be honest when it's hard. When honesty falls between a rock and a hard place, it is, more often than not, because of poor decision making. The root of this dishonesty is pride. No one wants to cast themselves in poor light, but when the truth hurts, and lies are used to hide mistakes, people are going to see it eventually, regardless, and that only makes a person lose even more respect. In instances such as these, dishonesty always creates a greater problem for the liar than he or she had to begin with.

There is another form of dishonesty which is rooted in pride, but it presents itself opposite the first. This type of lying promotes oneself when no wrong has been done. It is a form of self-centeredness, a search for gain through lies told. This can appear in many forms, including but not limited to cheating on a test (presenting a score believed to be founded on the knowledge of one, when in truth it is not) and exaggerative or blatantly false self promotion (saying something of ones self not entirely or not at all true to impress others towards the gaining of favor and most likely the increasing of rank or station).

There is a third form of common dishonesty in which one maliciously lies to put another down, also tending towards self promotion in that one looks better in light of the victimized other. This form of lying appears more common in children, but in truth is equally adult, only more complex and subtle. This is also known as slander and libel, and is usually the root of gossip.

In any of these three general types of lying, and in all other ways to achieve dishonesty, one must remember that lying is wrong, always. It is never okay to lie, even when it seems like it might help someone. The Biblical story of Rahab has an example of a lie that seemed to help someone: the Hebrew spies sent to Jericho. Her lie kept these spies from those seeking to kill them. However, this lie displayed a lack of trust in God to keep the spies safe.

It boils down to one thing operating in two ways. Lying either attempts to cover wrong choices or displays a lack of trust in God. Neither expression of dishonesty is best by any means. Doing right keeps one from needing to lie about the wrong he or she did, and trusting God is always so much more fulfilling than relying on self. Honesty is truly the best policy, and it should be our desire to make it the only policy.

Learn more about this author, Brandon Michael Davis.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.