Clarksville, TN – Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. –Proverbs 19:1
Is this true? Well of course it is.
Let me ask it another way: is it true in our culture? Absolutely not.
I am over it.
Why do we spend all of our time teaching children the value of honesty, yet we promote those who lie, time and time again? Do we enjoy being made a fool? Do we enjoy watching the ridiculousness of it all unfold?
Many people, wait most people, have something to say about the lack of honesty in politics. The father of EMC², even had an opinion:“All of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small an influence reason and honest good will exert upon events in the political field. “ ~Albert Einstein
In other words, honesty has no place in politics. It doesn’t appear to have a place in sports either, in light of the 7 Tour de France “wins” by Lance Armstrong achieved by lying and cheating, and a country whose heart broke for Manti Te’o who claimed his girlfriend died of cancer so he could bolster his attention and accolades (according to his teammates).
So where does honesty fit in our world? Does it only matter at work, or on our taxes, or when our children are speaking to us (but not necessarily when we are speaking to them)? Is lying okay when it benefits the greater good, provides jobs, raises money for good causes, or garnishes support for an underdog team? Let’s be honest for a minute: When we overlook these lies, justify their “reasons” and admire those who tell them, we might as well say to our kids, “Lying is great, lying is good, lying will take you places, and being honest will make you a nice person, but a broke joke.”
I can’t see into the hearts of men like Armstrong, Te’o or the man on the moon, but I can tell you this: I would rather raise my children to be honest to a fault, than pretty little liars who laugh all the way to the bank. There are many who will blame the system, the sport, or the culture instead of the man himself, “…but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9
Are we raising men and women of integrity? Or are we raising a generation of justifiers who lie if they have a “good enough reason”? I believe it will depend on this: Will we as parents sacrifice our pride and privilege for the truth or will we sacrifice our integrity for our gain? Choose carefully. They are watching.