Think About What is Honest

Whatsoever things are honest...Think on these things.
When I first began this look at Phil. 4:8 I thought about combining the "whatsoever things are true and whatsoever things are honest". Then I decided that since they were listed separately, there must be at least a little difference between them.

In the Dake Bible notes on "honest" in this verse, it speaks of all that is "grave, decent, honorable, and Christian." I suppose the difference here in true and honest can be sumed up with the fact that sometimes one can convey true facts that can mislead or hurt someone.
I can be angry at someone and state the truth about what they have done, but when I am truely honest about the person, I have to look at their character and the whole of the person to get the correct assesment of the situation.

Look further in Dake's definition..."decent, Christian"? Honestly, sometimes I don't want to look at that side of it! If I am hurt or angry, I don't want to see the decent, honorable, or Christian side. I want God to be on MY side.
"Finally bretheren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest...Think on these things." O.K. Lord, that must mean that I have to see things the way they really are. I get it. I have to look at things in context. I can't fly off the handle and suppose that I know other people's motives when I don't.

Whenever we are thinking on these things that are true and honest, it means while we are hearing things that contradict someone's character from other people; we don't take everything we hear as the gospel truth. Reserve judgement and contibuting to the conversation. Be level-headed and don't jump in with both feet.

One of my friends listened to me while I complained about the mistreatment I received from another friend. When I finished dumping my frustrations at her feet she remarked that the offender had been having a terrible week. Things in her life had been falling apart and she was overwhelmed by all of the obligations she had signed up for before her troubles started. I felt very small and petty. My friend hugged me and assured me that there was no way for me to know what had been going on in the offender's life. I had to learn how to forgive myself for jumping to the wrong conclusions.

That brings up a hang-up I have at times...forgiving myself. I must remember to assess the truth about myself and realize that I have good character qualities. I have to look at myself with honesty and know my motives. If my motives are wrong or undesireable, I need to take the necessary steps to change. Most of all, I must give myself a break.

Webster's definition of honest- "genuine, fair, integrity, sincere, frank, moral excellence