“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19 NIV)
Often a fictitious story starts out with the intent of being funny, but finds its way to the factual truth. So I’m just going to go straight to the truth. I will admit I have been guilty of lying when asked about the new shirt that I put on, declaring, “Oh, I had this for some awhile now; brought it a long time ago.” Then, “somebody,” whose identity I will keep anonymous, says, “I just asked because I found this plastic barb on the floor, the kind that is used to fasten price tags to merchandise.” My charade goes on, “That must have been there for a long time. We need to sweep the floor more often. You never know what comes in on the bottom of your shoes from the outside.” The lying leads to the producing of another piece of evidence by the same “somebody,” “That’s funny, I pulled a plastic bag out earlier to discard some coffee grinds and it had a receipt that said, “Shirt: $19.95.” Now as far as the pick four tickets go, honestly I never, “nevah” buy lottery tickets, but I know my shared “little” lies confession may block you from believing it, just for a minute. That’s the price of not telling the truth. “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”
Keeping it brief this morning, let us all be challenged to stand on the truth, stabilize our words with integrity, and steer away from even the smallest sentence that comes out our mouths that states an untruth. Oh, and while we are at it, let’s even focus on lying to ourselves, convincing ourselves we are right when in fact we are wrong, shifting the blame to others; projecting them to be at fault when it is really us, and justifying actions that should have just been avoided. Let’s stop inventing excuses on our way to our destination with an explanation we created that we thought would never be exposed as a lie. We will be better off having truthful lips! Don’t forget this story of the price tag fasteners, paper receipts, and pick four tickets. Apply the lesson intended to your life. I would write more, but I have to run the sweeper and take out the trash! (Laugh now!) Have a great day, a day framed by honesty, integrity, truth, and uprightness. I’ve got to go now before “somebody” gets up! (Laugh again!) Have a great day! Be blessed!
For we have regard for what is honorable [and above suspicion], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” (2 Corinthians 8: 21 Amplified Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King