A friend of mine was telling me about a girl who did not speak the truth and who was not honest. She went to different houses to work for people and did not hesitate to steal things whenever she had an opportunity. Often, too, she told things that were not true. She was what some of you would call a story teller. God calls such people liars, for what is not true is a lie.
Soon the women for whom this girl worked, found out how bad she was. They could not depend on her word or trust her. Finally they stopped getting her to help them.
It is a very unhappy thing for one to lose the confidence of his friends and neighbors and to feel that he cannot be trusted.
How much better it is to speak the truth always, and to be honest and faithful wherever we are—both when alone and when with others. Then our friends and those for whom we work will trust us at all times and in all places. It is the faithful honest boys and girls whose masters promote them to higher and more responsible positions.
But while it is good to have man’s approval of our conduct, it is still better to have God’s aproval. Do you know what God thinks about lying?
“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22.
How glad we ought to be to have the Lord delight in us, and He will, if we speak the truth and do not deceive.
But God hates lies so much that He says, “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” Revelation 21:8.
What a terrible thing it would be to spend eternity in such a place!
Ask God to help you at all times to speak only the truth. Without His help we are sure to fail and do many things that displease Him. He is willing to help and can preserve us from evil as well as from danger.
“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Psalms 120:2.
ML 04/09/1944