Honesty Is A Gift (02.12.2006)

This week, we begin a new unit: Honesty.

A PHARISEE'S DINNER
Read Luke 14:7-11 about Jesus at a Pharisee's dinner

• How is Jesus’ behavior strange? What is He doing that most people don’t do?
  - He's giving unsolicited feedback (or criticism) to people in a social gathering
  - He is voicing the thoughts that most of us may have but would never dare say out loud

Read Luke 14:12-14 about what happened next at the dinner

• What strange thing does Jesus do next?
  - He criticizes the host for the people he has invited (and not invited)
  
• How is Jesus doing good to the people at the dinner?
  - He is pointing them toward a truth that would bring them closer to God if they were to follow it

WHAT JESUS’ HONESTY MEANS FOR OUR RELATIONSHIPS
The difference between compassion and honesty:

Compassion ...

• Focuses on the person.
• Focuses on understanding and caring for people.
• Focuses on other people's hurts.

Honesty ...

• Focuses on the truth.
• Cares for people by helping them see something they do not understand.
• Focuses on how people are hurting themselves or others.

What happens in a relationship if you are compassionate but never honest?

• The other person may take advantage of you
• The relationship could become superficial
• The people may become co-dependent on each other

What happens in a relationship if you are honest but never compassionate?

• The other person may become tired of your comments
• The relationship could become strained
• The people may become distant from one another

Our world is broken physically and morally.

• Jesus cares for the physical brokenness with his compassion and his miracles.
• Jesus cares for the moral brokenness with his honesty and his teaching.

From the feeding of the 5,000, we have the following two accounts from Matthew and Mark:

• "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14)
• "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." (Mark 6:34)

Most of us want compassion for ourselves and honesty for others!

THE ROOTS OF JESUS' BEHAVIOR
How does Jesus' behavior at the dinner differ from what you would've done?

When we see an overwhelming need or a "difficult" person ...

• We tend to be unconcerned, we freeze or we pull back
• Jesus is concerned, takes action and moves closer

When someone's opinion of us is at risk ...

• We are concerned about it
• Jesus is unconcerned about it

Jesus explains how He is able to respond this way: "I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. . . . How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" (John 5:41,42,44)

TABLE TALK

• How does having "the love of God in our hearts" give us the power to risk honesty with others?
• Why is it difficult to do both -- to show compassion and honesty?

Remember what Pastor Gregg said: "If you know where you sit, you know where you stand."

PRAYING GOD'S WORD
Use the following passages to pray God’s Word back to Him, either on your own or with others:

• Lord, You take pleasure in honest lips; You value a man who speaks the truth. (Proverbs 16:13) I know that love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:6) By speaking the truth in love to one another, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15) Therefore teach me to put off falsehood and speak truthfully to my friends, for we are all members of one body. (Ephesians 4:25)

BEING THE REAL DEAL
Here are some ways to apply this message from God’s Word:

• Examine the closest relationships in your life. Is there a healthy balance between compassion and honesty? Ask God to help you to balance out the relationship if needed.
• Ask God to provide opportunities for you to “speak the truth in love” with a friend. Be sure to pray before having the conversation so that it will be His message and not your own.