Is there such a thing as being too honest?
I have a problem with being too honest and saying the first thing that comes to my mind, even if it’s overly blunt. And recently I had a family member mention a big decision they made.
My immediate reaction was to talk about how silly it was, spewing my opinion about it. They shut down and ignored me.
I was so frustrated that they got mad just because I gave them my opinion. I mean, is there such as thing as being too honest?
And that’s when God whispered in my ear, you don’t get to have an opinion on other people’s life choices. They aren’t hurting anyone or even affecting your life at all. So why don’t you apologize and keep your blunt opinions to yourself.
Yes, that’s how God speaks to me. Blunt, because that’s the only way I receive correction and advice. But not everyone is like me. Not everyone enjoys hearing the opinion of someone who is too honest.
That was when I decided that I would no longer share my opinion unless it was necessary, built someone up, encouraged or helped to correct a fellow believer who I had the freedom to give my opinion to.
Not everyone wants to know your opinions on current politics, especially when you are being too honest with your angry or demeaning thoughts.
Not everyone wants to know your opinion on their relationship.
Not every spouse wants to know when they are irritating or annoying you or how terrible they are being.
Not everyone want to know your honest opinion of their outfit or new hairstyle.
John 15:12 Love one another, as I have loved you.
We need to use our honesty for good and to encourage others. We need to love each other with our honesty and find ways to be honest without hurting other people. You’ll know if you’re being just a little too honest.
If the Bible tells us to love one another just like Jesus loves us, we need to think like Jesus.
Just because God and I are blunt with each other, doesn’t mean that’s how he would talk to everyone.
What would Jesus do? How would Jesus respond to someone?
It’s our job to speak life over people, even if we don’t have anything good to say. We have to work on finding good things to say. Because there is such a thing as being too honest.
Response Questions:
1. Who do you notice that you are most often too honest with?
2. How can you work on speaking life over others instead of always sharing your blunt opinions?
Pray with me!
Father God, help me to be honest in a loving way and use my words to build others up. I don’t want to be known as someone who is careless or too blunt with their words. Forgive me for the moments I say things that I should say. Help me to love others as you would love them.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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