Chapter 28—Truthfulness
Let Parents Be Models of Truthfulness—Parents and teachers,
be true to God. Let your life be free from deceitful practices. Let no
guile be found in your lips. However, disagreeable it may be to you at
the time, let your ways, your words, and your works show uprightness
in the sight of a holy God. Oh, the effect of the first lesson in deceit is
terrible! Shall any who claim to be sons and daughters of God give
themselves up to deceitful practices and lying?
Never let your children have the semblance of an excuse for saying,
Mother does not tell the truth. Father does not tell the truth. When you
are tried in the heavenly courts, shall the record be made against your
name, A deceiver? Shall your offspring be perverted by the example
of those who ought to guide them in the way of truth? Instead of this,
shall not the converting power of God enter the hearts of mothers and
fathers? Shall not the Holy Spirit of God be allowed to make its mark
upon their children?
It cannot be expected that children will be altogether guileless.
But there is danger that through unwise management, parents will
destroy the frankness which should characterize child experience. By
word and action parents should do all in their power to preserve artless
simplicity. As children advance in years, parents should not give the
slightest occasion for the sowing of that seed which will develop into
deceit and falsehood, and mature into untrustworthy habits
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Never Prevaricate—Parents should be models of truthfulness, for
this is the daily lesson to be impressed upon the heart of the child.
Undeviating principle should govern parents in all the affairs of life,
especially in the education and training of their children. “Even a child
is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be
right.
A mother who lacks discernment, and who does not follow the
guidance of the Lord, may educate her children to be deceivers and
1
The Review and Herald, April 13, 1897
.
2
Good Health, January, 1880
.
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