Proverbs 25:18

Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an axe, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

Lying is a terrible business, and the writer of Proverbs captures its awful destructiveness. It is a very tempting route when the truth is hard to face. The temptation is to at least bend the truth so that its sharper edges aren’t obvious. However, when you start lying, it is very hard to stop. Washington Allston, the American artist and poet, wrote: “Nothing is rarer than a solitary lie; for lies breed like toads; you cannot tell one but out it comes with a hundred little ones on its back.” Lying becomes nothing less than a tragic way of life for those who choose its path.

The writer of Proverbs wants his readers to understand that the only way of life worth living is one where the truth is treasured. Phillips Brooks, the hymn writer, wrote: “Truth is always strong, no matter how weak it looks, and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks.” During Jesus’ ministry, he spoke a great deal about truth. He said to those who believed in him: “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Later, he declared: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14.6).

When we choose to follow Christ, we are committed to a life of truth as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. The truth is not a narrow set of facts but embraces every part and relationship of life. In the Christian life, we discover more and more truth not only about God, but also about ourselves and the world. We have the encouragement of knowing that it is the role of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

Question

In what situations have you found it hard to tell the truth?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you that you are the way, the truth and the life. Help me to live close to you and to allow your Spirit to lead me into all truth. Amen