A Lying Nature

For Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Proverbs 14:5

A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.

The observation of this proverb is that for some people lying makes them uncomfortable, while for others it is second nature. I think of a movie in which a "city-wise" cop is teamed with two "do-it-by-the book" cops. All through the movie, he tries to loosen them up and tell lies whenever necessary to keep out of trouble with the police department. They are not bad cops, just officers having to break some rules so they can get the bad guys. Finally, the movie ends with the two other cops telling a lie to their superior officer, and, thus, the movie ends happily.

Lying has become not only second nature, but esteemed as a virtue for achieving good ends. I remember reading a book by a successful Christian salesman, who gives example after example of techniques based on lying. The premise is that as long as the salesman truly believes in his product, then he may take liberties with his stories.

Today, you will have opportunities to speak the truth or to lie. What will be in your nature to do? Will the thought of telling a lie make you squirm, or will the idea of telling the truth be too unnerving? Will your struggle be over how to tell the truth in love and in a way that glorifies God? Or will your struggle be over how to fudge the truth convincingly and get your way?

Lord, if I must struggle with truth telling, let my struggle be over how to tell the truth for the welfare of my neighbor and for your glory. Amen