Dear Friend,
It has been said that “nothing
is too small that it can’t be blown out of proportion.” As believers we need to
be truth tellers. We need to be extremely careful that we never “blow the truth
out of proportion”
We need to be careful with
the things we say with our lips, so that we develop a reputation for always
being honest in every aspect of our lives, unlike the chairman of a local
chamber of commerce I read about.
He had to introduce a
speaker of the organization’s annual black-tie affair. He introduced the
speaker with the following words. “The man I am about to introduce is someone I
know you are going to enjoy listening to. He is the most gifted businessman in the
country. He made one hundred million dollars in California oil.”
The speaker came to the
podium rather embarrassed. “Mr. Chairman,” he said, “Thank you for the
wonderful introduction. However, the facts need some clarification. It
wasn’t oil, it was coal. It wasn’t in California; it was in Pennsylvania. It
wasn’t one hundred million dollars. It was only one hundred thousand. And it
wasn’t me. It was my brother, and he didn’t make it, he lost it.”
Hopefully, unless we are
fisherman, not any of our conversations are as untruthful as this man’s
introduction.
Paul writes in Col 3:9-10
“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
and have put on the man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of
Him who created him.”
Solomon reminds us “ lying
lips are an abomination to the Lord.” Proverbs 12:13.
As believers we are called
to be truthful in every area of our life. Let us never give anyone reason to
question our truth telling ability.
When we speak, let us
“speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). And if we can’t speak it in
love, then it is not yet ready to be spoken.
Speaking the truth and
always being honest has several advantages. You will never have to remember
your lies, which often takes more energy to remember than it does to be honest.
And secondly you will earn the trust and respect of others who will know they
can always trust you and your word.
Let’s all work together to
stop "truth decay.”
Yours in faith and
friendship,
Tom
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