By: Undre Griggs, Jr.
Lying is saying something with the intent of creating a false belief or impression. It is an attempt to get someone to believe something that is not true. But why lie? People lie to avoid consequence; whether the consequence is hurting someone’s feelings, losing a job, losing a friend, or a child losing out on their favorite dessert. Based on Proverbs 12:2, it is apparent God sees lying as a faithless action.
Proverbs 12:22 (ESV): Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Matthew 5:37 (ESV): Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Reflecting on the reasons a person would lie helps us to see why God would see it as a faithless action. If we are lying to avoid a consequence that the truth would surely bring about, are we not taking matters into our own hands? Are we not leaning on our own understanding and foregoing God’s wisdom?
1 Peter 2:20-21 (ESV): For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
The truth may cost us much in this world, but if our mistakes are bringing about the punishment, the minimal we can do is accept the consequence. If speaking the truth is all we are guilty of, Christ wants us to endure and know that God is pleased with our self-sacrifice. When we speak the truth, we no longer have to worry about what will happen in the future. We do not have to worry about whether we will be able to remember which lie we said to which person. No matter the size of the first lie, one lie begets another lie, which begets another lie. The only way to free ourselves of this prison is to tell the truth. Whether the truth comes out in the beginning or near the end is of no consequence, the reward is the same.
John 8:32 (ESV): And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Walk upright in truth and understand any short term gain a lie may provide ends in destruction.
Proverbs 11:3 (ESV): The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
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