The Truth!

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind and soul. He said the second greatest is to love your neighbor as yourself. And a huge part of loving someone is being honest with them, which is the ninth commandment.

But the truth isn’t always pretty, because it can be painful. So is it right to share the truth even when it could hurt someone? Or should we conceal the truth in order to spare their feelings? Those are important questions you need to ask.

To find the answers, first look at your motives. Many truths have been told out of selfish ambition, or in the midst of conflict. They may have been harshly communicated just to prove a point. And many relationships have been divided, not necessarily because of the truth that was shared, but because of the way in which it was delivered. To communicate honesty in the right spirit to those around us, we must package it with love.

If confronted with a situation that needs the light of truth, take a moment to pray for the right words, a humble attitude and a loving spirit so you can communicate lovingly and honestly. Because as you do that, you’ll discover that honesty in every situation can help restore and strengthen relationships, and provide you with opportunities for great personal growth.