Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor. . . .

— Ephesians 4:25

Our readings for today instruct us to be honest with the people in our lives. Jesus speaks about this in terms of keeping oaths, and Paul urges us to speak truthfully. These teachings remind me of two situations in my context.

In Burkina Faso, it is not easy to say “no” to others because that is seen as showing disrespect. So a “yes” can mean yes or no; only the person answering knows what the “yes” means. So we say “yes” even if it is actually no. But instead we must learn to say “no” with love. We must also learn to accept it when another person says “no.” Otherwise, relationships become unreal and hypocritical because we are not able to provide clear answers to each other.

Similarly, we have what we call “African time.” This means that people can arrive between fifteen minutes to an hour after the agreed time without any problem. This may seem like a blessing and relief to someone who is hurried and stressed, but it frustrates and disadvantages people who are punctual.

If we hide the truth from others, that is lying. In other situations, we might also be ashamed of our actions, so we might try to cover them up with lies. But telling the truth means giving correct information, keeping our word, fulfilling obligations, and being punctual. It means not making promises we cannot keep.

How can you “speak truthfully” to the people in your culture and life today?

Lord, we want to be people of truth. Help us to be honest with you, ourselves, and others. Amen.