Deceptive hearts, lying tongues

If there’s one thing I try to be, it’s to be honest.  I don’t even care to tell white lies very often. 

If I don’t want to do something, I’ll just say so.  Nicely, but honestly. 

If I don’t like something, I’ll usually go by the maxim, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” 

If I do have to say something, I try (although I admittedly don’t always succeed) to do it gently.

There are two reasons for this: 

One, I’m not a good liar anyway. 

But secondly, and more importantly, God calls us to be honest.  He hates deceptive hearts and lying tongues.  And that’s what we see here. 

He told Jeremiah,

They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,” declares the Lord. 

“Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers.  For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. 

You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord. 

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:  “See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people? 

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.  (Jeremiah 9:3-8)

That’s a pretty miserable picture God paints.  A picture where you can’t even trust your own family or friends.  Tongues as smooth as silk, but hearts filled with poison. 

And God says of these kinds of people,

“Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord.  “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?”  (Jeremiah 9:9)

What kind of person are you? 

Do you teach your tongue how to lie?  Or do you teach it how to speak the truth in love? 

Is your mouth filled with deceit?  Or is it full of integrity?

When you talk with your wife or your husband, do you hide things from them?  Or are you completely open with them? 

When you talk with your business clients, do you keep things from them in order to win the contract?  Or are you completely honest and above board with them? 

Do you speak soft words to people, while despising them in your heart?  Or are you learning to love them as Jesus does, matching both your heart and words?

God says that people that live lives of deceit are failing to acknowledge him in their lives. 

God is truth.  And so he calls us to live truthful lives.

How truthful are you?