Is Honesty Just Outdated?

Forms of Dishonesty

Lying

WHAT IS IT? Saying something false to someone who is entitled to know the truth. Lying can include misrepresenting or distorting facts in order to mislead a person, omitting key information to deceive someone, and exaggerating the truth in order to give a false impression. 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS: "Jehovah detest a devious person, but his close friendship is with the upright." (Proverbs 3:32)  "Now that you have put away deceit, each one of you speak truth with his neighbor." -Ephesians 4:25. 


Slander 

WHAT IS IT? Uttering false and malicious statements that injure a person's reputation.   

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:  "A troublemaker causes dissension, and a slanderer separates close friends." (Proverbs 16:28)  "Where there is no wood, the fire goes out, and where there is no slanderer, quarreling ceases." -Proverbs 26:20. 

Fraud 

WHAT IS IT? Inducing someone to part with money or property on false pretenses. 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS: "You must not defraud a hired worker who is in need and poor." (Deuteronomy 24:14, 15)  "The one who defrauds the lowly one insults his Maker, but whoever shows compassion to the poor glorifies Him." -Proverbs 14:31. 

Stealing

WHAT IS IT?  Taking property from a person without permission.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:  "Let the one who steals 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." (Ephesians 4:28)  "Do not be misled. . . .Thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God's Kingdom." -1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. 

Next time: How to Overcome Feelings of Insecurity

From The Watchtower magazine