Howard Dayton - Faithful in Little Things - Honesty
"No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar" - Abraham Lincoln
LESSON 1 - HONESTY
1. The Lord requires us to be totally honest. "You shall not steal, deal falsely or lie to each other" - Leviticus 19:11 - “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another."
2. God's Honesty Requirements; The Lord demands honesty in our business dealings. Deuteronomy 25:13-16 - "13 Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light. 14 Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small. 15 You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 16 For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly." Do not lie to each other. Ephesians 4:25 - "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
3. Benefits of honesty; more intimate fellowship with the Lord. Psalms 15:1-5 -
"1 In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. 2 I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. 4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." The Children of an honest person are blessed. Proverbs 20:17 - "The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them."
4. More benefits of honesty; The Lord will protect and provide for the needs of the honest. Isaiah 33:15-16 - "15 Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— 16 they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them."
LESSON 2 - BRIBES
1. "You shall not take a bribe..." Exodus 23:8 - “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent." The taking of bribes is clearly prohibited in the Bible. "Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles" - Proverbs 13:11 - "Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow."
2. Curse of the family; "He who profits illicitly (taking bribes) trouble his own house, but he who hates bribes will live." - Proverbs 15:27 - "The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live."
3. Curse of alienation from God; "For a crooked man is an abomination to the Lord" - Proverbs 3:32 - "For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence."
4. Blessing on the family of the honest; "A righteous man who walks in his integrity - how blessed are his sons after him." - Proverbs 20:7 - "The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them."
LESSON 3 - COUNSEL
1. Two attitudes keep us from seeking counsel; Pride and Stubbornness. "The way of fools seem right to them, but the wise listen to advice" - Proverbs 12:15 - "The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice."
2. God encourages us to seek godly counselors; "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." - Proverbs 19:20 - "Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise."
3. Seek counsel for insights, ideas and options. "The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face" - Proverbs 10:8 - "The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin."
4. Sources of Counsel; The Bible - Psalms 119:24 - "Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors." Godly People - Psalms 37:30-31 - "30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. 31 The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip." The Lord, "Wonderful Counselor" - Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Instructor/Guide - Psalms 32:8 - "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." And Psalms 73:24 - "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
5. Counsel To Avoid: The Wicked - Psalms 1:1 - "Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers," , Fortunetellers, Mediums, and Spiritualist - Leviticus 19:31 - "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritualists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." and 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 - "13 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse." Saul + Mediums = Death!
LESSON 4 - APPLICATION
Create and maintain accurate records and filing systems of important financial, personal, family, and life information. Create a written legacy plan.
** END OF CHAPTER FOUR **
Chapter Five - Generosity - Benefits in Heaven
Honesty, Bribes and Counsel
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