Proverbs 24:26
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Like most of us, I am sure, I was brought up with the saying that honesty is the best policy. But what they didn’t tell me was that it tends to be the most difficult policy. It’s often easier to keep the truth to yourself because it might not be well received. Indeed, the hearer might be deeply offended by the truth. So we can easily end up playing a game of deceit. We say what other people want to hear and never dare to go anywhere near the sharp edges of truth.
Whenever someone asks us how we are, we have to decide what level of truth to share. The customary answer – “Fine” – often reveals nothing at all and is simply used as a polite way of avoiding conversation. However, at the same time, it would be gruesomely inappropriate to share everything about our lives and feelings.
There is every reason why the Church should be a community characterised by honesty. However, it is easily possible for a church to be as superficial and deceitful as any other group of people. We desperately need to learn what the apostle Paul referred to as “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). When the honest truth is spoken rudely and aggressively, it can be horribly destructive. It will certainly not build anything. Only if our words are full of love will the truth bring healing and blessing. To use the words of Proverbs, our honesty will be like nothing less than “a kiss on the lips”.
Question
Do you have someone with whom you can be completely honest?
Prayer
Lord God, help me to become better at being lovingly honest with those around me. Amen

Released on 4 Nov 2026