Deadly Lies

Read Proverbs 26

A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.

Proverbs 26:28

Lying tends to be our first line of defense. The most damning evidence presented by our original ancestors that they had accepted their fallen condition was their attempt to lie to God. The shame they felt after eating the forbidden fruit indicated that their consciences had been awakened. They hid from God for the same reason. Up until God asked his questions, Adam and Eve could have repented. Instead, they lied. Every time we lie, we confirm that ancient family trait.

This proverb points out that lying fosters or reveals that we hate those to whom we lie. When we lie to people we love, we are treating them with hatred. Because successful lying creates powerful guilt, and because we want to avoid guilt, we tend to develop hatred toward those who accept our lies under the false excuse that they are gullible. Hatred toward a victim of our lies indicates that we have seriously succumbed to our own lies. To adapt an old saying, “We have lied to the enemy, and he is us.”

A WORD FOR TODAY

Dishonesty is a form of hatred.

Today, Lord, help me remember that lying includes an expression of hatred toward you. Help me abhor and resist it for that reason.