Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:25
Quite often, I’ll have someone come to me and ask, “Pastor, what is the definition of a lie?” Well, the answer is simple. A lie is a statement that is spoken with intent to deceive.
Now, lying comes in all shapes and sizes. For example, you can stretch the truth and tell a lie. Cheating is also a form of lying. And then there’s flattery – when you say something to somebody’s face that you wouldn’t say to their back!
But perhaps one of the most damaging of all lies is that of cowardice – when people fail to accept responsibility for their own actions. Those are the people who have a yellow streak where their backbone ought to be!
Why are we to be careful not to lie? Well, in today’s passage, the apostle Paul has in mind the idea of the unity of believers. He fully understands that there’s nothing more destructive or more damaging to the fellowship of the church than lies, distortions, untruths, and gossip.
So when it comes to your dealings with others, be truthful. Don’t let your desire to get ahead or be on someone’s good side cloud your judgment. Speak the truth in love and you’ll have friendships that will last a lifetime!
THERE’S NOTHING MORE DESTRUCTIVE TO A RELATIONSHIP THAT LYING. SO LOVE OTHERS BY ALWAYS BEING TRUTHFUL!
