1 Samuel 19:17
“Saul said to Michal, ‘Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?’ Michal told him, ‘He said to me, ‘Let me get away. Why should I kill you?”
I will lie to you if I say I’m always a good mom. In the area of truthfulness alone, I daily fall short. Let me name a few. SIN-ario#1: When my always-hungry kids ask for more bread, especially after a heavy rice meal, I usually say ‘There’s no More’. I could have said, ‘That’s enough’ but it will just momentarily pause their plea. Plus, I’d rather make them feel bad about the supplies, not me. SIN-ario#2: When it’s time for them to sleep and they struggle, begging to watch some more DVDs, here's what I say: “Barney will now sleep. He’s tired.” Amazingly, they’ll believe it. I just don’t know ‘til when. SIN-ario#3: When they’re so unruly, overly noisy, and I felt I fairly needed some sanity, I send them to their room and seriously say, “Mom’s working. Stay there.” It’s my script even when I’m just playing Cityville. Effective statements, but untrue. May seem harmless, but still untrue.
White lies are considered beneficial statements, used for the better good. But who are we fooling? Michal, like Rahab, used it to help people escape from sure death. But God can save regardless of our input. He was able to make David fight ten thousands of Philistine warriors without a girl’s protection, right? It was not her lies that bought him time, it was God’s providence. Rahab was commended not because she lied either. The end doesn’t justify the means. God’s righteous standard runs from purpose to process to product. Call it bluff, exaggeration, flattery, excuse, or half-truth, a lie is still contrary to God’s character. He hates it and sees it as an abomination. It was the enemy’s first weapon and it never went obsolete. Paul said, “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body”. The reason he gives is our identity in Christ. We cannot say we are God’s children and behave otherwise.
In the article ‘The 15 Most Common White Lies and Why’, the writer said, “I think the world is probably a better place because of our white lies. As long as we aren’t hurting others or breaking the laws, these innocent lies make life more pleasant.” Now that’s a lie. We are hurting Someone and breaking His law when we lie. He created the best garden but one lying serpent painted it with discontent. Nothing untrue is pleasant. Don’t be deceived.
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