Everything we do and say must be based upon the truth; lies
make a shaky foundation for any relationship. Lying comes in four primary
forms:
1. DECEITFULNESS
2. HALF-TRUTHS
3. EXAGGERATIONS
4. FLATTERY
We will be talking about the first three and save flattery for another
day.
DECEITFULNESS
Have you ever “tweaked” your tax income by claiming something that wasn’t true to get a bigger refund?
Why do some people practice deception? Many do it for financial
gains, for social advantage, to hide immoral acts or to obtain other “benefits. Deceit is in the Bible too. Remember the
story of Jacob and Esau? The brothers where Jacob, whose name means “trickster”, deceived
his father to get his brothers birthright. When Esau found out he threatened to
kill Jacob. So Jacob was forced to leave the town and went to his Uncle Laban
to live. Now “Uncle
Laban” deceived Jacob a few times. First
is that Jacob wanted to marry Rachel and after working for Laban for 7 years
Laban gave (tricked) him in marrying another one of his daughters, Leah. Jacob
had to work another 7 years before he could marry the woman that he loved. When
Jacob abandoned his deceitful ways, God blessed him.
Deception takes place when you intentional try to get someone
to believe something you know is not true. It occurs in numerous forms,
depending upon the creativity and the desire of the deceiver.
When we engage in deceitfulness it is a slap in God’s face and can have dire consequences. When we make
a choice not to trust him to handle a situation, when in essence decide He is a
liar and will renege on His promise to meet our NEEDS.
We then proceed to make our own way by any means necessary-even
being deceptive. In doing so we forfeit the good life God had planned for us.
HALF
TRUTHS
I clearly recall a time many years ago, where I was out of
town. Now my mother was a worrier and I had to report to her anytime I left
town, where I was and what I was going. I felt like a teenager. Anyway, to not
cause her the stress of worrying, many times I left town without telling her.
Usually she didn’t call me
when I had done so, but this one time she did. She said “ where are you?” , I said “ I am outside” which I
was, but is was nowhere near being outside at my house, which I made her think.
But the “undisclosed” information would have triggered her anxiety. See
mother was thinking that I was outside at my home and thus I was lying. ANY
intent to deceive is a lie, even if half of it is true.
That is why when we take an oath that we swear to tell the WHOLE truth, not a fraction or part of
it.
EXAGGERATING
Do you know of any who embellishes a story in order to get more
attention from a listener? I do. In fact, I know a few of them. Exaggerating
may seem harmless, but it is another form of lying. If you are known for exaggerating, or “stretching the truth”, you will
soon lose credibility with others. You have heard the saying, “you should only believe about half of anything they
say”. Is that how you would want
others to think of you?
It is one thing to get excited and enthusiastic telling a
story, just avoid exaggerations. Stick to the faces at face value and resist
the urge to be the center of attention by engaging in this form of lying.
REFLECTION
AND READINGS:
PROVERBS
12:22, PSALM 120:2, REVELATIONS 21:8, PROVERBS 17:20, 1 PETER 3:10
1. Of the
three categories of lies listed above, which do you find yourself most
frequently tempted?
2. Read the
story of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 27). What “benefit” motivated Jacob to trick his father into giving
him the blessing of the firstborn?
3. Do you
feel there is every a justifiable reason for lying? If yes, explain. Can you
find a biblical reference for your rationale?
TODAY’S
AFFIRMATION
