{"id":3735,"date":"2020-11-04T15:57:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T15:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/2020\/11\/04\/teaching-our-children-to-be-honest\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T07:04:10","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T05:04:10","slug":"teaching-our-children-to-be-honest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/teaching-our-children-to-be-honest\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Our Children to be Honest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sHme2Ksoz7A\" title=\"Sittin\u2019 With Sam Ep 28 Teaching Our Children to be Honest\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-style: italic\"> You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. <\/span><span><span> \u2013 John 8:32 <\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span> One of the most vital things we can do for our children is to teach them to love the truth and tell the truth. Embracing truth is a vital building block of life and character. If children learn to always tell the truth, no matter how difficult it may be, they can build a strong life based on righteousness. <\/span><\/p><p><span> In the first passage below, the Bible teaches us that telling the truth is vital, and in the second one, Jesus reveals that deceit originates from Satan: <\/span><\/p><p><span><span> \u201c<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-style: italic\">Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body<\/span><span><span>.\u201d \u2013 Ephesians 4:25 <\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span><span> \u201c<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-style: italic\">When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar, and the father of lies<\/span><span><span>.\u201d \u2013 John 8:45 <\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span> Teaching children to tell the truth is a process, one that needs to be reinforced throughout their growing-up years. My wife Geri and I began teaching our children the difference between truth and make-believe when they were two and three years old. Once they understood that distinction, we began teaching them the difference between telling the truth and telling lies. Sure enough, all four of our kids began experimenting with stretching the truth or telling lies when they were three or four years old. We had to have serious talks\u2014and serious consequences\u2014to show them how hurtful and dangerous lying was. <\/span><\/p><p><span> We began the conversation by explaining to our children, \u201cGod wants you to be honest, and so do we. God wants you to be honest, so he will always make sure we find out the truth.\u201d We tried to explain that deceit hurts our relationships: \u201cIf you don\u2019t tell us the truth, we can\u2019t trust you, and we can\u2019t have a close relationship.\u201d We also taught them, \u201cIt\u2019s always better to tell the truth. Let\u2019s say you did something wrong, but you decide to be brave and do the right thing and tell Mommy and Daddy what you did. You might still get in a little trouble, but you\u2019ll get in a lot more trouble if you tell a lie and try to hide what you did!\u201d <\/span><\/p><center><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"448\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Teaching-Our-Children-to-be-Honest.png?resize=448%2C296&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Teaching-Our-Children-to-be-Honest.png 448w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Teaching-Our-Children-to-be-Honest-300x198.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\"><\/center><p><br><span> Sometimes children may say inaccurate or untrue things, but they aren\u2019t lying. Maybe they are using their imagination or trying to tease us, or maybe they aren\u2019t paying attention to their words. Maybe they have an incorrect understanding or are confused. When those situations happen, we don\u2019t need to discipline our kids; we just need to make sure they understand the importance of words and the differences between truth and telling jokes, or using their imaginations. <\/span><\/p><p><span> On the other hand, when our children deliberately tell a lie, they are taking a fateful step that can profoundly damage their character and their lives. We must have deep convictions about this. Too many parents dismiss preschoolers\u2019 deceit as childish immaturity rather than treating it as a serious character issue. The earlier you teach your children about deceit, the better. Don\u2019t underestimate young children\u2014they can learn this lesson early on! <\/span><\/p><p><span> If our children learn to tell the truth when they are younger, it will protect them\u2014and us\u2014from great heartache as they grow older. In their teenage years, kids can be even more fervently tempted to become deceitful. If they have already developed a conviction about honesty, they will be more likely to remain honest as teens. If our older children or teens begin struggling with deceit, let us appeal to their hearts and consciences so that deceit will not become an ongoing weakness that destabilizes their character into adulthood. With older children and teenagers, Psalm 32:2-5 can be a powerful teaching tool: <\/span><\/p><p><span> \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-style: italic\">Blessed is the one  whose sin the Lord does not count against them  and in whose spirit is no deceit. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-style: italic\"> When I kept silent,  my bones wasted away  through my groaning all day long.  For day and night  your hand was heavy on me;  my strength was sapped  as in the heat of summer. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-style: italic\"> Then I acknowledged my sin to you  and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, \u2018I will confess  my transgressions to the Lord.\u2019  And you forgave  the guilt of my sin<\/span><span>.\u201d <\/span><\/p><p><span> This passage shows us that deceit eats us up from the inside. It plagues us with guilt and fear. Deceit hurts our relationships with God and with people\u2014and it damages our own hearts. But when we tell the truth and confess any sin we are hiding, we find relief and grace and forgiveness. We are set free (John 8:32). <\/span><\/p><p><span> We can also share this passage with our older children: \u201c <\/span><span style=\"font-style: italic\"> They perish because they refused to love the truth and be saved <\/span><span> \u201d \u2013 2 Thessalonians 2:10. When we resist the truth, we remain separate from God, but when we love the truth, we are able to receive forgiveness and salvation. <\/span><\/p><p><span> Fathers, teaching our children to love the truth is one of the most vital lessons we will ever provide for our children. This will enable our children to have strong character, to live good, powerful and effective lives, and to give their hearts to God. May God give us the love, conviction, and wisdom to love the truth ourselves, and then to teach our children to do the same! <\/span><\/p><p style=\"line-height: 1.5\"><span style=\"font-style: italic\"> Come on over to our YouTube channel for more on this topic in the Sittin\u2019 With Sam series! Shared from Sam Laing&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/warriorforthelord.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Warrior for the Lord<\/a><span style=\"font-style: italic\">. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most vital things we can do for our children is to teach them to love the truth&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":3736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-3735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-families"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sam-Laing.jpg?fit=556%2C271&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-Yf","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":30824,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/embracing-divine-tension-disagreement\/","url_meta":{"origin":3735,"position":0},"title":"Embracing Divine Tension in Disagreement \u2013 Part 9","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"August 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In the messy arena of human relationships, whether in marriage, the workplace, church family, or online discourse, we constantly feel the pull of opposing forces.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Bible Study&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Bible Study","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/bible-study\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Straw-man-v-steel-man.jpg?fit=1200%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Straw-man-v-steel-man.jpg?fit=1200%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Straw-man-v-steel-man.jpg?fit=1200%2C655&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Straw-man-v-steel-man.jpg?fit=1200%2C655&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Straw-man-v-steel-man.jpg?fit=1200%2C655&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3230,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/loving-the-truth-creating-a-legacy-of-integrity-and-trust\/","url_meta":{"origin":3735,"position":1},"title":"Loving the Truth: Creating a Legacy of Integrity and Trust","author":"dtadmin","date":"January 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Being truthful\u2014I mean, really truthful\u2014in any and every situation is hard. Of course, Jesus did it and, as his image bearers, so should we. But speaking the truth also got Jesus killed, so is it any wonder we sometimes have a love-hate relationship with embracing truth?","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Women's Ministry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Women's Ministry","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/womens-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/A-Legacy-of-Truth-2-980x668-1.jpg?fit=980%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/A-Legacy-of-Truth-2-980x668-1.jpg?fit=980%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/A-Legacy-of-Truth-2-980x668-1.jpg?fit=980%2C668&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/A-Legacy-of-Truth-2-980x668-1.jpg?fit=980%2C668&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3619,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/how-far-for-the-pendulum-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":3735,"position":2},"title":"How Far for the Pendulum Now?","author":"dtadmin","date":"September 5, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Our fellowship suffered a firestorm in 2003. 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A widely distributed internet letter was one of the most obvious sparks that set our forest ablaze.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/09\/spherical-ball-joint-746194_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/09\/spherical-ball-joint-746194_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/09\/spherical-ball-joint-746194_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/09\/spherical-ball-joint-746194_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/09\/spherical-ball-joint-746194_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31318,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/embracing-divine-tension-pendulum-swings-part-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":3735,"position":3},"title":"Embracing Divine Tension: Pendulum Swings \u2013 Part 10","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"September 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"We are tempted, always, to seize one truth and let the other fall, and the moment we do, the swinging begins. 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Sometimes it\u2019s a wonder people find the real Jesus to follow. The truth of his message strikes a chord in their souls. The grace of his relationships appeals to their hearts. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/06\/bird-dove-flight-160.jpg?fit=1200%2C819&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/06\/bird-dove-flight-160.jpg?fit=1200%2C819&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/06\/bird-dove-flight-160.jpg?fit=1200%2C819&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/06\/bird-dove-flight-160.jpg?fit=1200%2C819&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/06\/bird-dove-flight-160.jpg?fit=1200%2C819&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29470,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/divine-tension-embracing-the-fullness-of-gods-truth-part-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":3735,"position":5},"title":"Divine Tension: Embracing the Fullness of God\u2019s Truth &#8211; Part 1","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Any serious reader of the Bible soon discovers an uncomfortable reality: the fullness of God's truth is often held in tension. 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