No Laughing Matter

Read Proverbs 26

Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”

Proverbs 26:18-19

When an insane person starts shooting, lots of people end up hurt—or dead. Senseless shootings have made us question the sanity of those who wield lethal weapons to commit such horrible acts.

Yet consider the damage our words do when we tell lies to others. Now consider the damage done when telling a lie to a friend. Now consider telling a lie, getting caught, and then trying to say we were “only joking.” A little saying goes, “What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Telling lies to our friends may cause situations that spin out of our control. Despite the movies that try to show humorous situations that arise from this—or unhappy situations that have a happy ending—the truth is that lying and then trying to cover up is like shooting a lethal weapon. No happy ending here. Be truthful. Lies are never a joking matter—not even among friends.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Lies hurt and kill indiscriminately.

Lord, teach me to see lies for what they are—as damaging as lethal weapons. Help me to value and practice truthfulness in everything I say and do.