To be honest is to be truthful or sincere. Honesty is also related to moral correctness or fairness. We talk about an "honest day's work" in which a person works hard and his pay is well-earned. We also talk about an "honest mistake" meaning the person intended no harm yet made an error. All of these definitions of honesty speak to an upright, moral character free of guile and concerned with truthfulness. The Bible has a great deal to say about truth. Most specifically, it tells us that Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
A life of honesty requires not only being honest with others, but also being honest with ourselves. Our own sinful natures and the world system are full of deceit. If we are not careful, sin can begin to look good to us and we can easily forget that the only source of genuine good is God (James 1:14–17). One way to keep ourselves honest is to continue to read and study the Word of God. The Bible is a primary way that God reveals Himself to us. The more we know Him and His truth, the more we will live honest lives.
Men and women committed to following Jesus Christ can encourage one another to keep the faith and to press on in living as Jesus has called us to (Hebrews 3:13; 10:19–25). The world system may not applaud honesty, but our brothers and sisters in Christ can remind us that the way of Christ is the way of true life. Community is also helpful with accountability. As we are often unable to see the true situation of our own hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), we each need people in our lives who are willing to be honest with us about all things—even those that are difficult to hear. We also need to be willing to be honest with others, even when the truth seems uncomfortable. It is important to remember that honest words should always be spoken with gentleness, respect, and love (1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 4:15).