Honesty And Deception Start From The Same Place….

Honesty and deception start from the same place, within the heart. There are two kinds of people in this world, honest and deceptive/pretenders. Better put, selfish vs more selfish. We all have these qualities, it’s just how we deal with it that matters. There’s no better way to see the difference than when criticism comes into play. Honest people may not like criticism but over time take it in, process it, and become better people because of it. Honest people have the ability to handle criticism. They take the truth, apply it to their situation, making them better, all the while throwing out the negative untruth. Honest people use discernment, God’s wisdom, to handle criticism. For we are not the ultimate Judge of things. Deceptive people hate hearing anything negative or critical about them. They immediately deny any accurate information, deflecting truth, then start attacking the critic. They either totally reject the correct information or pretend to not be the way they are being critiqued. They rationalize and justify their behavior at any cost. The point this proverb makes is crystal clear: when we are confronted with the truth, the amount of time it takes us to process it will determine the state of our well-being. The shorter amount of time proves our ability to be honest with ourselves. The longer it takes shows how thick our pride really is. Choose today, Whom you will serve, God or self. The outcomes will be at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Instant gratification or long-term solace, the choice is yours to make.

23 In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery. Proverbs 28:23