Here’s a link to the whole series.

Last week I wrote about the first of several relationship principles for life and that was It’s Not About Me. Today I’m moving into Ephesians 4 for the next several principles for relationships.

We should speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15)

This is kind of two principles, but they go hand in hand. The first half deals with the simple concept of honesty. In relationships, it’s sometimes easier to be dishonest, and our flesh justifies this. After all, we don’t want to hurt anyone with the truth.

Outright deception – lying – can prove extremely destructive, but there is another kind of dishonesty that also creeps into relationships in which we’re just unwilling to speak honestly to one’s face. We’d rather be nice and hide our true feelings. The problem is, this appeasement leads to a burying of strong emotions that usually erupts in the future or drives a wedge between us over time. Speak the truth.

But speak the truth in love! The truth hurts sometimes, but it was never meant to be a destructive weapon of offense. Phrases like “Well, I just speak my mind,” don’t really fly when we’re being hurtful. James said our tongues are like poison and like fire. If you can truly control the tongue, you can master anything in life. Always allow even our truthful speaking to be seasoned with the salt of grace.

If we combine these thoughts of speaking the truth, and doing it in love, we create an atmosphere of openness, where truth is allowed, but also compassion, where forgiveness is experienced. We create a safety net where it’s okay to be honest. In fact, it’s better.

Didn’t somebody once say that honesty is always the best policy?

photo credit: nflorence2012

Advertise Here