HONESTY

An honest person is much more than simply someone who tells the truth; he is someone who is trustworthy and full of integrity. Do you know anyone who you consider to be trustworthy? Why? Are there people that you do not trust? Why? What do you do when someone breaks your trust? What do you do when you break someone’s trust? How is trust earned back or is impossible? How important is honesty to you in your relationships?

There is a proverb, “Honesty is the best policy”? What do you think it means? Do you think it is ever difficult to be honest? Can you think of a situation when someone might think that being honest would not be the “best policy”? Here is a short poem by Sir Walter Scott (1808): “O the tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” How can lies be like “webs”? Give an example of someone you know or heard about who got tangled in lies.

Many values such as honesty (or the lack thereof) are first taught and modeled at home. What are some ways parents can teach honesty to their kids? How were you taught and modeled honesty growing up? Will you do anything differently when you teach your children? What do you think a child’s punishment should be for lying?

Some people can misuse the value of honesty by being outspoken, blunt or indiscrete. Have you ever been offended by someone’s “rude” honesty? Some good advice is “Speak the truth in love.” Give some examples of how to do this.

Do you think it is ever right to lie to protect someone or to lie so someone’s feelings won’t be hurt? Would you want someone to protect your feelings by lying? Do you think it’s ever acceptable to tell a “white lie”?

Do you think most Americans are honest? Why or why not?

How does your native culture view honesty? How prevalent is cheating in the schools in your country? What do you think the punishment should be for students found cheating in school? What do you think the punishment should be for teachers or administrators found lying or cheating?

(Optional) Here are some verses that talk about honesty.

“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.” (Proverbs 12:17)

“For thus says that Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!) who formed the earth and made it…I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.” (Isaiah 45:18-19)

Questions: 1) Why is it important to know that God speaks truth?

2) If God speaks only truth, where do lies come from?

HONESTY

  1. What is honesty?
  2. What is the opposite of honesty?
  3. Have you heard this phrase, “Honesty is the best policy”? What do you think it means?

When people are honest with you, you learn to trust them. Whom do you trust? Why? Are there people that you do not trust? Why?

What do you do when someone breaks your trust? What do you do when you break someone’s trust? How is trust earned back or is impossible?

Many values such as honesty are first taught and modeled at home.

  1. What are some ways parents can teach honesty to their kids?
  2. How were you taught and modeled honesty growing up? Will you do anything differently when you teach your children?

Sometimes people will tell the truth, but in a rude or unkind way. Some good advice is “Speak the truth in love.” Give some examples of how to do this.

Do you think most Americans are honest? Why or why not? How does your native culture view honesty?

How prevalent is cheating in the schools in your country? What do you think the punishment should be for students found cheating in school?

(Optional) Here are some verses that talk about honesty.

“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.” (Proverbs 12:17)

“For thus says that Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!) who formed the earth and made it…I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.” (Isaiah 45:18-19)

Questions: 1) Why is it important to know that God speaks truth?

2) If God speaks only truth, where do lies come from?

Copyright © 2007, BUI