The Honesty And Honor Of Those Who Love The Lord

From: September 30 to October 6, 2008

Pastor: Edith Cruz

Study: # 560 (304) TOPIC: “The Honesty And Honor Of Those Who Love The Lord” 2 Samuel 24:23-25; Genesis 23: 11 - 13

HONESTY is necessary in the Lord’s Church. It is proper for us as believers to live with HONOR. When we obtain things easily and not how it should have been, we allow it to go easily; but when we struggle and fight to obtain them as we should, we learn to appreciate it and we will surely take care of it. Abraham and King David are good examples of this. Honor and honesty in a man can be seen when he is going through a difficult situation in his life. Abraham was going through a very difficult situation; his wife Sara had died and he needed a place to bury her. Due to the need that he had to obtain a place to bury his wife and because of the appreciation that his neighbors had for him, an opportunity was given to him. Abraham could have taken advantage of this opportunity, but he wouldn’t accept. Genesis 23: 11-13 On the other hand, David, who was facing a great plague that destroyed the people of Israel, also received an opportunity as king of taking advantage of the man who had offered him a land to built an altar to Jehovah. Both men of God, in spite of those compromising and difficult circumstances, demonstrated their honesty. When a difficult problem or a tragedy arises a in our lives, we should not take it as an occasion to take advantage of anyone because of our situation. In times like this we can see if there is or there isn’t honor in a person. This speaks much of who we are, of what you are, because when we are honest we don’t take advantage of anyone or anything, because those who fear God know that only God is their provider. If you, beloved, know how to carry your cross day after day, I assure you that in those bad moments Jehovah will be with you and He will be your provider. But men's problem is that they like to let go their cross, neglecting to fulfill the commitment to follow the Lord and to take the cross as the Lord commanded. (Mathew 16: 24) A man loses the honesty and the honor when he leaves his cross and begins to use astuteness in a moment of the opportunity to acquire and possess what he needs, and in this way he is discarding God’s blessing. If we allow dishonor to possess us, we will no longer be able to love or maintain Jesus' character in our lives. (Genesis 23:6) Abraham walked with his cross and the Hittites called him "prince", for he had great honor and honesty. But he never took advantage of this. They were able to recognize that Abraham was a man with a calling and that he had the divine favor of God. Because Abraham was a righteous man who walked with God and Jehovah provided him the seven days of the week. We can see that Abraham's honor was so great that he gave up the advantage he could’ve had among those men while being considered as prince. Because when we live under God’s will, we know in whom we have believed, because it is God who opens the heavens and blesses us. We don't receive the blessing by men's will. (Genesis 14: 21-23) For this reason we must have a life of integrity and love the favor of God in our lives and one day we will also be called "princes of God." (2 Samuel 24:1) The wrath of God was against Israel, and since David was in charge of that nation, God incited his heart to take a census. There were consequences for the nation that had sinned, because we should not forget that everything has an order. Crazy things are done and then regret comes, but also the consequences. For this reason, those who have HONOR (which is the quality that moves to behave according to the moral norms) and HONESTY (dignity that is followed by impeccable behavior for not having committed acts of punishment) will not allow us to fall to the floor, or fall in shame; but when we do crazy things it just shows the lack of honor in our lives.

(2 Samuel 24:13) David was going through a difficult process because Israel had sinned and he had to choose one of three punishments: seven years of hunger in their land, to escape three months before their enemies, or three days of a pestilence in the land; the last alternative was the one that David chose (and many died.) But because of Jehovah’s mercy He ordered the angel that was destroying them to stop. Let us notice that God’s people receive His judgment when they do not walk in honor and in honesty. If the people of God do not want to receive God’s judgment they must cleanse their selves and raise an altar before God as David and Abraham did. In order to obtain the divine favor and walk with honesty in this world, we need to conquer God’s heart; because it is Jehovah who allows judgment and the well-being. But, if you raise an altar to God, you will be able to understand many mysteries on your behalf. The honor of being a righteous king allowed David to walk with honesty. (2 Samuel 24: 21, 24, 25) He bought the land of Araunah for a fair price and raised an altar to God because he understood well what it meant to be impeccable. Then he cried out to God and the pestilence stopped. David could have taken advantage of his reign, but he preferred to die to his advantages and to have the blessing from Heaven that is the one that enriches. Abraham bowed before the Hittites (Genesis 23: 7) in spite of being called a prince by them. He bowed before this pagan nation. That is sublimity, which is respect; he did not come before them with arrogance. Although his heart was hurt by the death of his wife he did not allow them to give him anything as a gift. We can see that being king or a prince did not drive these men (David and Abraham) to take advantage. For this reason, neither the pain, or the position, or the abundance or shortage should drive us to take advantage, because men should never forget that they are dust. Do not take advantage of the circumstances that favor you, because if you as a parent seek to take advantage of them, your children will see you and their own circumstances will provoke them to take advantage of everyone and everything surrounding them will lose its merit. Then, in your home there will be no honor and bad days will come. Church, let us stop trying to be clever for the world and let us be servants of God. When one lives according to God’s will, the blessing will no longer be in a situation of earthly advantage, but rather your blessing will be in Heaven and you will receive it in your life. If you can walk with honor in your secular life, surely in your spiritual life the best will develop and the honor will never leave you. And when you succeed in becoming a prince, surely you will never stop to bow; for this reason beloved, cultivate honor and honesty in your life always. Amen.