Trust me, it is more rewarding to be completely honest than to live a lie
Why Is It Important to Always Tell The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth, So Help Me God …?
by Joyce Ibia | Contributing Writer | Eternal Affairs Media
White lies, gray lies, black lies, red lies, we are all guilty of one or more of these types of lies at some time in our lives. The question is, is it necessary or justified to tell a lie? Oh, I understand, you need to tell a lie to run away from your mistakes, or a little lie to make yourself look good. Do you ever think of the aftermath, the unending guilt?
We live in a society where trust is vital to our everyday interactions, however, telling a lie has become more common. This has led to an increase in crime rates, broken relationships, betrayals, conflicts and other negative consequences.
The Consequences of Telling a Lie
Every moment in our lives, we have the option to either say the truth or make up a lie. Lies can cover true feelings, make it easier to get out of things we don’t want to do and make us look better. They can also hurt not just the person that we lie to, but ourselves as well. The truth can be bad, but lying will always be worse. Here are a few things telling a lie can do to you;
Anxiety
When you tell a lie, you are instantly putting yourself in a stressful situation. Sometimes it feels like you are going to be fine in the end, and that is why you lied. However, anxiety can take a huge toll on not just your mental health but also your physical health.
Insomnia
You may experience difficulty falling asleep at a certain time because your thoughts are all over the place. If your sleep is messed up, then this will also affect your overall health negatively.
Fear and depression
If you are constantly worried about a lie being known, you will lack confidence and have low self-esteem. It can make you very defensive and terrified, which can also lead to depression.
Ruin Relationships
Most people in relationships lie to cover up an issue. Lying can just make things worse. It can destroy trust in a relationship and ruin the bond that two people have managed to create.
Lack of trust and respect
Telling a lie can lead to mistrust and make you a dishonest person. Your family, friends and colleagues will find it difficult to trust and respect you.
Loss of reputation
Lying is something that can be time-consuming and not worth the time or effort. You see it as a defensive mechanism where you have to continuously lie to cover up previous lies. When caught, it can be embarrassing, and you lose your reputation and dignity.
The Importance of Telling The Truth And Nothing But The Truth
“I swear by Almighty God that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” – Court Sworn Testimony
In a court of law, one is required to take an oath or make a declaration before taking the witness stand. You see it is important, to tell the truth, irrespective of the circumstance. “Say the truth, and the truth shall set you free,” was a popular saying while growing up. This saying is gotten from John 8:17, Jesus instructed us to live a life of truth and be free from lies and guilt.
Being honest is hard because it forces us to acknowledge our mistakes. The truth is that nobody likes being lied to. It leaves them feeling betrayed and unimportant. When we are honest with others, it builds a sense of trust and connection which can lead to a stronger relationship in the future.
“If you tell the truth, it becomes a part of your past. If you lie, it becomes a part of your future.”
The importance of telling the truth outweighs any short-term advantages of lying. Once you tell a lie, you need to remember that lie so as not to contradict yourself in the future. However, if you tell the truth, you don’t need to worry about your lies being discovered and you will live a happier life with peace of mind.
When you constantly tell the truth, it builds your self-confidence. You earn respect from the people around you because it shows you love and care for them. You will also gain respect and trust as they will see you as someone they can relate to and seek advice from.
Being truthful allows you to maintain a high level of integrity and brings you peace of mind. You know that you are living a life that is in line with your values. Your life is guided by your values, and thus, your decisions are based on truth. You can look at yourself in the mirror with a sense of pride, sleep well at night and fully express your true self to others. By being true to yourself, it becomes easier for you to be true to others. As a result, you become a better friend, partner, parent, or colleague.
7 Ways To Live a Truthful Life
I know it can be difficult to live a truthful life, so here are some tips to help you get started;
1. Learn from your mistakes
Everyone can and will make mistakes. It is important to learn from the mistakes you have made and move forward, rather than dwelling on them.
2. Be honest
It is important to be honest in all aspects of life because it builds trust between people which is the foundation for any relationship. It also helps build strong personal and professional relationships with others. Honesty is about telling the truth and being authentic.
3. Choose your friends wisely
The people we hang out with have a huge influence on us. Surround yourself with friends who are genuinely kind, nice, and have integrity. Avoid friends who tell lies and will likely put you in a situation to tell a lie.
4. Compete with integrity
Sometimes we compete and compare ourselves to others, and then we lie to make ourselves feel better than we are. Value yourself, don’t compare anyone to you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
5. Avoid unnecessary lies
Avoid situations in which you will have to lie for others. For instance, a crime, harmful act, etc. Don’t let anyone confide in you with this type of information.
6. Stay silent sometimes
If you are in a disagreement or a tense situation, in which getting honest would disrupt everyone’s mood and happiness, it is okay to stay silent. Also, you don’t have to tell a lie to get the argument to an end. Just stay out of petty disagreements, than reignite the flame with truth bombs.
7. Stay true to yourself
Staying true to yourself involves standing up for your values and not caving in to the demands or expectations of others. Being true to yourself can lead to independence, confidence, happiness, and the ability to navigate through life more effectively. It brings about integrity, self-respect, and a fulfilled life.
Final Thought
“But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:2
It is not always easy to tell the truth. It can be difficult to tell someone how you feel or what you think. But as we have discussed in this article, telling the truth, and nothing but the truth is important and it will pay off in the long run. You need God in your life to help you live a truthful life, John 14:6. Trust me, it is more rewarding to be completely honest than to live a lie. It’s much easier and peaceful because you don’t have to worry about holding a story together. Trust me again, that false story will always, eventually shred to pieces, because the truth always prevails.
“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” – Luke 8:17
Let’s discuss in the comments how you intend to make it a habit of always telling the truth.
