THE LIFE OF A LIE

A university student became a local hero when word got around that he had rescued a girl from three attackers. But he got national attention when someone found out that his story was a lie. The embarrassed student admitted that he did not (as he had originally said) use martial arts to defend a girl. He had picked up his cuts and bruises being clumsy at home.

His short-lived fame proves what Solomon said about the life expectancy of lies. Lying to avoid trouble or embarrassment will only ever lead to more trouble.

Not telling the truth only delays the consequences of our lies. We end up just getting more and more entangled in them as we try to cover our tracks and make ourselves look better than we really are.

The truth always comes out in time. Proverbs 12 tells us why. God hates lies (PROVERBS 12:22) and He views them as weapons of violence (PROVERBS 12:18). As a result, lies do not hold up very long (PROVERBS 12:19). They are the tools of the trade of people who only rely on themselves to solve problems, and don’t entrust their mess to God (PROVERBS 12:20).

We can learn from today’s reading and from the embarrassed student. A lie may seem like the easy way out, but it will end up causing more trouble in the long run.

To pray about . . .

God, please help me to be truthful, even when it is painful and costs me something. I know honesty pleases You and makes me rely on You, rather than myself.

THE TRUTH MAY HURT AT THE TIME,
BUT AT LEAST IT LEADS TO PEACE LONG TERM.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries