Why don’t we always tell the truth? - Truth - TouchPoints

Acts 5:1-10But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.” . . . About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died.

Acts 20:30Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.

We sometimes lie for our vanity—to look good. Although people are most respected when they show integrity, we sometimes lie to become popular or gain power. Lying presents a false image to others, an image we hope makes us more desirable. In actuality, this false image displays the undesirable qualities of dishonesty and deceit. Lying often makes us look bad when it comes to light.

Genesis 4:8-9While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

We sometimes lie to avoid punishment and cover up our sins. Lying tries to shift the blame, but this solution is only temporary and often brings greater punishment when the truth is discovered.

Genesis 12:12-13“When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

Genesis 18:15Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

We sometimes lie to protect ourselves, but that fear often comes from a lack of faith.

Genesis 27:35-36Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.” Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice.”

Psalm 12:2Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.

We sometimes lie because of our greed. It’s tempting to lie to obtain something we desire. Flattery is a form of lying, making up sweet words to get another person to give us what we want or do what we ask.

Acts 16:16-21One day . . . we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. . . . [Paul] turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”

We sometimes lie to get revenge. Just as a drop of poison is all it takes to kill someone, a little lie is all it takes to kill someone’s reputation. In fact, little lies have been known to literally lead to someone’s death.

Jeremiah 17:9“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”

Mark 7:20-22He [Jesus] added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”

Sometimes we even lie or distort the truth without thinking about it. The bottom line reason for avoiding the truth is that we are all born with a sinful nature, and therefore we are prone to sin.