Let’s be honest. I am sure you can think of a time when telling a lie seemed like a good idea or the easiest way to get out of something. Right? Maybe you were just trying to avoid getting in trouble or trying to cover up a bad decision, and it seemed like a lie would make it all disappear.
I am also pretty sure you can think of a time when you were affected by someone else’s choice to tell a lie. Maybe your little brother or sister blamed you for something they did or a classmate made up a story about you. Do you remember how that made you feel?
Lies hurt, and it doesn’t matter which end of the story you are on. They hurt the people we tell them to and they hurt the person telling them, and whether or not anyone ever finds out really doesn’t matter. It is important to be a person of integrity, honesty, and truth!
Telling the truth is an important part of becoming more like Jesus and creating good habits. Actually, the Bible tells us that God does not enjoy being with people who tell lies!
The Bible says, “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22). We are also told to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25). What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
The next time you find yourself having to choose between sticking to the truth or telling a lie, ask God to help you be honest and brave enough to tell the truth!
Dear God, even if it makes me look not-so-good, I want You to look good, so help me to always be honest and sincere. Please help me see how always telling the truth will be good for me even if it does not feel good in the moment. In Jesus’s name, amen.