When you were a kid, do you recall making promises or sharing something to your friends or siblings, then having to convince them that you were for-real telling the truth? Maybe you had to say that you were honestly, ‘if your lying-your dying’, ‘as god as your witness’ telling the truth. Why would you need to convince someone unless you had lied to them in the past? Whether you have sworn on your mother’s grave, or just told amazing stories that seem unbelievable, at some point you develop a reputation for being an honest person, or not. So, what determines whether people believe your word?
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. Proverbs 12:22
Most of us can rationalize any behavior in which we partake. We think that lying to our children about tooth fairies, Santa Claus, or any type of boogeyman is justified because everyone else does it, or maybe because the ends justify the means. Little white lies may get you out of something in the moment, but in the long run, they develop into something that can destroy you. So how many times a week do you either not do what you said you would, or lie to others? If even more than once, it can easily become a habit that is difficult to break. In my experience and observations, the closer one becomes to God, the more they detest any amount of lies in their lives, whether from themselves, or others.
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices. Colossians 3:9
In a World where the truth is covered up and lies are perpetuated, where do we go to find what is true? Fanciful stories abound, even about famous people being good guys or Christians, but if they are not true, what purpose do they serve? Even with fact-checking sites like Snopes, the lies perpetuated on the internet just seem to be growing. So, who do you trust? When you turn to the Word of God, do you hold any of it suspect? Do you trust that the Word is as true today as when it was written?
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. Psalm 119:172
If you believe the Bible as the true Word of God and try to live out what it promotes, you should emulate that truth in your life. When you give your word to someone, you should not have to make promises and try to convince them of your honesty. When someone doesn’t follow through on what they say once, I have trouble trusting anything else they tell me. So, whether in business dealings, or managing things at home, let your word be true so that others will come back to you for advice and counsel in the future. May your life reflect the One you worship in spirit and in truth!
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
Yours in Christ,
Clark
