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THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRUTH (2)
'You desire truth in the inward parts...' Psalm 51:6
It's all very well saying we should tell the truth all the time. But sometimes the truth isn't quite as impressive, or as shocking, as we'd like it to be. So we soup it up a little - just a touch of exaggeration here and there - to make the story a bit better. No one gets hurt, right? Not so.
In the book of Acts, Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and gave a portion of the money to the church. But they lied, claiming the land sold for the amount of money they gave (see chapter five). That little white lie resulted in their deaths. 'Eesh!' you say, 'I'm glad God doesn't strike people dead today for lying!' Well, kinda-maybe. Little white lies can bring slow death too:
1) In your friendships. Lies undermine trust between friends. Over time, the damage might go beyond repair.
2) In your conscience. Because a second lie is always easier to tell than the first.
3) In your usefulness to God. God says if you are honest in small things He will trust you with greater things (Matthew 25:21).
What now? If you've dug yourself into that sort of hole, there is a way out. Think back on the last few days and any lies you might have told. Repent - and then go and make it right.
written by Bob Gass
'You desire truth in the inward parts...' Psalm 51:6
It's all very well saying we should tell the truth all the time. But sometimes the truth isn't quite as impressive, or as shocking, as we'd like it to be. So we soup it up a little - just a touch of exaggeration here and there - to make the story a bit better. No one gets hurt, right? Not so.
In the book of Acts, Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and gave a portion of the money to the church. But they lied, claiming the land sold for the amount of money they gave (see chapter five). That little white lie resulted in their deaths. 'Eesh!' you say, 'I'm glad God doesn't strike people dead today for lying!' Well, kinda-maybe. Little white lies can bring slow death too:
1) In your friendships. Lies undermine trust between friends. Over time, the damage might go beyond repair.
2) In your conscience. Because a second lie is always easier to tell than the first.
3) In your usefulness to God. God says if you are honest in small things He will trust you with greater things (Matthew 25:21).
What now? If you've dug yourself into that sort of hole, there is a way out. Think back on the last few days and any lies you might have told. Repent - and then go and make it right.
written by Bob Gass
