Leadership: The 14 Success Principles of JobSample

2. Honesty

While you might not have listed Job’s principle of sexual purity at the top of your list, you likely would include his second principle near the top: Honesty.

For many of us, honesty is perhaps the most obvious way to lead as a Christian, to do business as a Christian, or just to live life as a Christian. Once people know you’re a Christian, they will generally expect a higher level of honesty from you because of your faith.

Job’s principle doesn’t stop at just being honest, in the sense he would tell no lies:

 “If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit…”  – Job 31:5

His use of the word “deceit” is worth digging into. The word indicates a purpose, a motivation, for the dishonesty. Check these synonyms of deceit to get a better understanding of what is meant: fraud, cheating, deception, hypocrisy, trickery, misrepresentation, double-dealing, slyness, underhandedness.

Of course, you want to be honest, but how does the above list of words resonate with you? Do you sometimes distort the truth just a little for your own advantage in leadership or business? Just a little bit of deceitfulness, maybe?

Throughout the Bible God’s will on this is pretty clear:

Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.  –  Leviticus 19:11b

Jesus groups deceit in with all manner of other evil:

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly."  – Mark 7:21-22 (emphasis added)

Whether you are tempted to tell a bald-faced lie or give a good impression with a little white lie, remember that a “lying tongue” is one of six things God hates (Proverbs 6:16-17), and the Bible also documents a specific destination for those who make lying and deceitfulness their habit. (Revelation 21:8)

Job’s second principle: Honesty, not even with a hint of deceit. Tough words to live by, especially in today’s environment. 

Next time you are tempted to not quite tell the truth, remember Job’s principle and apply it both to the words you say and the intentions you may have.

Reflection / Application   

1. Which of the synonyms listed for deceit do you see as most prevalent in your circles today? Does this sometimes apply to you also?    
2. Recall the last time you didn’t quite tell the whole story or told it in a way that maybe was somewhat misleading. If you had to retell it with honesty, how would it be different?   
3. Saying nothing at all is better than leaving a misleading impression. Might you add this principle to your leadership toolbox?