BETWEEN TWO GENTLEMEN – EVEN IN THE FALLEN WORLD

BETWEEN TWO GENTLEMEN – EVEN IN THE FALLEN WORLD there still can be honourable agreements and contracts. Between two honourable gentlemen, there need not be signatures on any legally binding documents, prepared by experts in law, so that nothing is left out of the agreement, to uphold an oral contract. What counts, and probably the only thing that really and truly counts is, the word of the man, and the honour one places on his or her word given to the other person. When there is intent to honour the word given, everything else is not all that important…it simply fades into irrelevance. They become incidentals, and nothing more than that. Such people are honest and honourable people. The world has seen such people. Sadly, we don’t see them anymore. They are almost extinct. Such people are called “fools” these days.

When someone doesn’t want to honour their word, no matter what agreements they sign upon, they will not honour them. They simply find new ways and means to break the agreements. If they are clever and crooked, they would deliberately insert loopholes in the signed documents which are deliberately kept unclear and ambiguous, so that at a later date, they simply can walk away from any consequences. The intent being to give themselves the scope to manipulate without legal consequences, when things are not going in their favour. We get to see many such incidents and people. Look at the world politics and the agreements they sign. Sadly many claim themselves to be “Chosen People” and Christians. What is even more appalling is the vast support for such things from many who claim to be  Christians. How can this be right? These are dishonest and dishonourable people. The world has seen such people…and we still do.

Well, whatever the case about the world, the LORD Jesus Christ, and the written Word of God, the Bible view things differently. The LORD Jesus, speaking to His disciples and His followers, speaks the following words, which should wake is all from our slumber.
– ’37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37
– “12 But above all, my brethren…let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.” – James 5:12

We as the children of God, and His disciples…
– …are called to be honourable men and women.
– …are called to honour our word. 
– …are called to be wise, but not cunning and crooked in our dealings with anyone in this world.
– …are called to think, speak and do things the way our LORD Jesus had done, and would do if He were in our place, in that particular context.

The following holy Scriptures make it amply clear about the heart and the intent of the LORD Jesus Christ. We as His disciples are expected to follow them faithfully and obediently. There are no two opinions on this.
– “Thou shalt not lie” – Exodus 20:16
– “17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” – 1 John 5:17-21
– “​1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all…17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” – Colossians 3:1-11,17

The LORD our God hates lies and liars. Lies proceed from the very heart of Satan, the evil one…and therefore, all who lie belong to Satan and not the LORD Jesus. Have we forgotten that Satan is the father of lies? 
– “44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” – John 8:44. 

The LORD our God hates lies and liars, for they are crooks of the worst kind and evil to the brim.
– “17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit. 18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. 19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. 21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil. 22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.” – Proverbs 12:17-22
– ” 1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool…5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape…9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.” – Proverbs 19:1,5,9

Let us ne honest and honourable in all our dealings with everyone, despite the cost and the constraints upon us. The honour of our LORD Jesus should be of far a greater importance to us, than anything else; and upholding His honour should be our utmost priority in all our dealings with men, than the lure and the significance of any benefits to us – material or otherwise. Therefore, let us seek the LORD to help us to be men and women of honour, integrity and dignity. Let us walk as our LORD had walked, and desires that we too walk on that same path, just like Him. Even so, the LORD help us.