Guileless People Are Not Necessarily Honest People

Cheng Mingjie Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province

Guileless People Are Not Necessarily Honest People

I consider myself to be an outgoing and forthright kind of person. I speak with people in a very straightforward manner; whatever I want to say, I say it—I’m not the type to beat around the bush. In my interactions with people I tend to be a pretty straight shooter. Often, I get cheated or ridiculed for too easily placing trust in others. It was only after I started going to church that I felt I had found a place I could call my own. I thought to myself: In the past my guilelessness has put me at a disadvantage and made me vulnerable to the deception of others; but in church God wants honest people, people who have been scorned by society, so I don’t have to worry anymore about being too guileless.

There Is Great Happiness in Honesty

Gan’en Hefei City, Anhui Province

There Is Great Happiness in Honesty

In my life, I’ve always gone by the phrase, “One shouldn’t have the heart to harm others, but must be vigilant so as not to be harmed” in social interaction. I never grant my trust to others lightly. I’ve always felt that in situations where you don’t know someone’s true intentions, you shouldn’t show your hand too soon. Thus, it’s enough to keep a peaceful attitude—in this way you protect yourself and will be thought of by your peers as a “good person.”

It’s Not Easy to Truly Know Yourself

Zhang Rui Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

I was a deceitful person. In God’s word we can see that deceitful people will not be saved by God; only honest people will receive His praise. So, I sought to be an honest person, to consciously practice speaking accurately, to be objective and practical, and to seek the truth from facts when reporting on issues. In my work, whether it was an error or an omission, I related it in detail to the leader. I also consciously dissected and exposed my own corruption. Every time I put this into practice, I felt that I had undergone some changes and I got a little taste of being an honest person.

It’s Not Easy to Truly Know Yourself

What is the difference between understanding the truth and understanding doctrine?

Relevant Words of God:

Coming to a real understanding of the actual meaning of God’s word is no simple matter. Don’t just think, “I can interpret the literal meaning of all God’s words, and everyone says my interpretation is good and gives me a thumbs-up, so I understand God’s word.”

How should one practice entry into being an honest person?

How should one practice entry into being an honest person?

Relevant Words of God:

You must be honest, and must pray in order to rid yourself of the craftiness in your heart. As you use prayer to purify yourself whenever needed, and use it to be touched by the Spirit of God, your disposition will gradually change.

from “Concerning the Practice of Prayer” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

What is an honest person? Why does God like honest people?

What is an honest person? Why does God like honest people?

Relevant Words of God:

Honesty means to give your heart to God; to never play Him false in anything; to be open with Him in all things, never cover the truth; to never do that which deceives those above and deludes those below; and to never do that which is done merely to ingratiate yourself with God. In short, to be honest is to refrain from impurity in your actions and words, and to deceive neither God nor man.

from “Three Admonitions” in The Word Appears in the Flesh