It is so often that we see people telling “little white lies” in order to make themselves look better, or to cover something they did which they knew was wrong. But Scripture tells us that we are always to tell the truth!

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20: 16)

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds. (Colossians 3:9)

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. (Psalm 34: 13)

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips. (Proverbs 24:28)

It is interesting how as we begin to allow little areas of compromise into our lives, we open the door to larger and larger compromises. Those areas of deceit can lead to so much. For example, if we decide to lie to our spouse about what we’re doing, it can begin to put up a wall in our communication.  Maybe it’s just withholding some information – “nothing harmful” of course, but it keeps us from having totally open communication.  Then it can be actual lies.  Just little ones of course!  We begin to do more and more deceitful things. I have seen couples who have allowed walls and deceptions to build and then they fall into adultery.

For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; so by means of that progression has a man allowed the lack of truth to lead him into total spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial bondage! (Proverbs 6:26)

It was for freedom that Messiah set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

Have I chosen to make sure that I am honest in all I say and do? Honesty is not only clearly commanded in Scripture, but we must be honest in order to receive the freedom (including from debt) and blessings that our Messiah so wants to give us!

Photo by arimore.