James Seven Enemies of Yes” and “No”

 

James

Seven Enemies of Yes” and “No”

Truthful communication is essential to relationships

You cannot have Trust without Truth

Every relationship is built on trust

The strength of our relationship with family, friends, associates, and strangers

Depends on our level of trust

If we are not truthful, the bridges of relationships will become weak

Abraham lied about Sarah, David lied about Bathsheba,

Peter lied about his relationship with Christ Jesus

None of us are exempt from the internal and external pressures of lying

 Like a piece of steel, deception is the crack in strength

Being a truthful person is not always easy

Our integrity depends on being truthful

Trust is the bridge of relationships

The oldest, shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’

Are those which require the most thought Pythagoras

“Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay” James 5:12

 

 

Seven Enemies of Yes” and “No”

 

Truthful communication is essential to relationships.

 

You cannot have Trust without Truth.

 

Every relationship is built on trust.

 

The strength of our relationship with

family, friends, associates, and strangers

depends on our level of trust.

 

If we are not truthful, the bridges

of relationships will become weak.

 

There are at least seven enemies

to truth and being trustworthy.

 

These are areas of deception and falsehood

that keep us from a communion of our

yes being yes and our no being no.

 

1 The half-truth:

 

You tell the truth, but not all the truth.

 

Abraham when he came to Egypt

told Pharaoh Sarah was his sister.

Genesis 12

 

Abraham did this again when he

 told Abimelech Sarah was his sister.

Genesis 20

 

Sarah was his half-sister.

 

But he didn’t mention that

she also happened to be his wife!

 

2 The “white” lie:

 

These are the “innocent” lies that we

say “don’t hurt anyone.”

 

You call in sick to work when you’re really well.

 

3 The lie to cover for someone else:

 

Secretaries are put in a hard place when the

boss says tell the phone caller “he’s not in.”

 

4 Exaggeration:

 

Stretching the truth to make yourself look

better or to evoke sympathy for your cause.

 

This one is really hard for those of us

who want to be liked or loved.

 

We want the praises and acceptance of others.

 

5 The silent lie:

 

This happens when another person assumes

something flattering about you that is clearly

false, but you don’t speak up to correct it.

 

6 The cover-up lie:

 

You hide your own wrongdoing with the

rationalization that it would hurt the other

person too much to find out the real truth.

 

7 The evasive lie:

 

You change the subject or conveniently

dodge the truth by not answering directly.

 

Don’t say maybe when you want to say no.

 

Abraham lied about Sarah,

David lied about Bathsheba,

Peter lied about his relationship with Christ Jesus.

 

None of us are exempt from the

internal and external pressures of lying.

 

 Like a piece of steel, deception is the crack in strength.

 

Being a truthful person is not always easy.

 

Our integrity depends on being truthful.

 

Trust is the bridge of relationships.

 

The oldest, shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’

Are those which require the most thought.

Pythagoras

 

“Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.”

James 5:12

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 5:12 KJV

 

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.