An
Essential Personal Trait
James R. Davis
Webster defines veracity as "devotion to the truth:
Truthfulness; power of conveying or perceiving truth; conformity with truth
or fact: Accuracy." The qualities of a veracious person are truthfulness,
open-mindedness, straightforwardness, fairness, and sincerity. Veracity
has to do with one's disposition toward truth.
How important is veracity? Without exception veracity
is the greatest attribute of character one can possess. The definition
of the word itself reveals that the absence of this trait will severely
hinder perception of truth and our ability to conform our lives to the
truth. The scriptures teach that one's disposition toward truth enhances
or diminishes God's word. (Luke 8:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Matthew
13:15) Therefore this quality of character is of soul-saving importance.
Veracity will strip one of erroneous attitudes
and stand him/her naked before the mirror of God's word with every thought,
motive and action exposed in order that one might see one's self as you
really are. Jesus spoke a parable about the Pharisee, who prayed, " . .
. God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give
tithes of all that I possess." (Luke 18:11-12.) This man had a distorted
view of self; he could only see his good qualities. His perverted view
of self prevented the illuminating word from penetrating his heart and
reflecting a true image of himself. Shakespeare wrote, "This above all:
to thine own self be true." This personal trait will enable one to be true
to self.
This eternally important principle enhances our
relationship with others. The Pharisee prayed, " . . . God, I thank thee,
that I am not as other men are, . . . or even as this publican." (Luke
18:11) Lacking in his devotion to truth caused him to see the speck of
sawdust in his brother's eye while failing to see the beam in his own eye.
(Matthew 7:3) He looked upon his brother as the outcast and failed to see
self as the real outcast. (Luke 18:14) Our misconception of self will warp
our perception of others.
Without an honest relationship with self and others
one cannot have a relationship with God. (1 John 3:13-19) Jesus said, "The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself . . . (Luke 8:11) The Pharisee
was deceived about his relationship with God because of the manner in which
he perceived himself and others. Demosthenes wrote, "Nothing is easier
than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be
true."
Are we open-minded enough to the truth that we
perceive ourselves as God perceives us? Jesus said, "And the publican,
standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but
smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you,
this man went down to his house justified rather than the other . . . (Luke
18:13-14)
Veraciousness allowed the publican to see himself
as he was; be it far from him to exalt himself while debasing his fellowman.
His devotion to a perception of truth enhanced his relationship with self,
others, and God.
Truth is of utmost importance in religious matters,
but we also must never underestimate the importance of the proper attitude
toward truth.
May God help us all to acquire more of this important
personal, "VERACITY"?
