Honesty is a virtue. Honest men keep their word. They are not deceptive in actions or words. When they say yes, they mean yes, and when they say no they mean no. There is no need for swearing an oath to confirm truth because they only speak truth (James 5:12).
But honesty does not mean we say everything that comes into our heads or tell all that we know indiscriminately (Proverbs 10:19; 17:27). Wisdom and prudence should be guards on our lips (Proverbs 1:1-6; 8:12; 4:4-6; Psalm 39:1; 141:3). All we say needs to edify and lift up those around us, whether that means confronting them with love or encouraging them with complements (Ephesians 4:29).
These principles should be guiding our conversations inside the home as well as to friends and acquaintances. All of our relationships belong to God.
