July 2023
Open & Honest
B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO
Published: July 1, 2023
Honesty is a concept that we have all valued at some point. Maybe you have made it a core value and see the benefit of its application in your life. Or maybe, your honesty is limited to certain people or circumstances. After all, the world around us seems to be undervaluing honest communication, behavior, and evaluation. Like you, I can think of many examples of people who have been less than honest in their personal and business dealings. So where does honesty stand in your value priorities? Can you be open and honest with yourself and others at the same time?
Let’s remind ourselves of the greatest commandments found the Bible. In Mark 12:29-31 (NLT) Jesus replied, “the most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No commandment is greater than these.” This passage clearly prioritizes these two commandments over all others. First, and most importantly, love God. Second, love our neighbor. So, who exactly is our neighbor? Neighbor is a term used several times in the Bible and describes anyone in our proximity capable of receiving our communication and fellowship. Modern terminology would call this our circle of influence. Most think of our circle of influence as the people closest to us. However, with the development of social media, conference calls, email, and other modern communication tools, our circle of influence is much larger than we can often imagine. People can receive communication and follow our actions much more than ever before. So, we likely have more “neighbors” than we think!
William Shakespeare once said, “No legacy is so rich as honesty.” Honesty has long been understood as a critical element of love. Ephesians 4:25 (NIV) supports this fact by reminding believers how to treat our neighbors, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Honesty matters and is a direct reflection of our commitment to this second but equally important commandment. There are many pressures that we experience in this world. Many are pressures to operate outside of the boundaries of truthfulness. When honesty is embraced as a foundational value, it provides a healthy boundary for our personal and professional decisions. In turn, honesty will help build strong relationships and trust with those in our circle of influence.
Being honest with our neighbors is one thing, but what about ourselves? We are not exempt from being deceived. Romans 12:3 (NLT) says, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourself, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” We must be open and honest with ourselves first and recognize those things in our life that are hindering us personally and prohibiting our ability to influence others.
Challenge: Never forget the greatest commandments in the Bible. First, love God. Second, love your neighbor as yourself. Be open and honest with yourself and it will help grow your love for God and people. Never underestimate the size of your circle of influence. Remember, honesty matters and supports our obedience to the greatest commandments ever given.
