The Value of Words

Over the past few weeks I’ve caught two people lying to me.  In both instances they’ve lied about inconsequential things.  One told me they were married when they are actually getting married next month.  The other told me they by chance ran into someone, but I know they actually had plans with this person.

It makes me wonder why lie about a fact that is so inconsequential.  Why tell me you’re married when you’re not yet?  Why tell me that you by chance ran into someone when you actually had plans with them?  I don’t get the purpose of the lie. 

The truth is we all lie at some point in our lives.  Most of the time I lie because I’m trying to make myself look better.  I left late and tell people “traffic was horrible”.  I’m lying because I think it makes me look better because it’s not me just being late.  I also lie because I don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings.  “No that dress looks amazing on you.” 

Even these “little, white lies” impact the value of my words.  If I tell someone a dress looks amazing on them and really another style is flattering, will they trust my answers going forward?  If I use the traffic excuse and I’m late every time, people will know I’m lying eventually!

These lies that I’ve heard may be over inconsequential facts, but they make me question everything these people have ever told me.  If they can so easily lie about little things, what big things are they lying about?  I no longer trust them. 

Then I begin to wonder how many people don’t trust me.  How many times have I been caught in a “little, white lie”?  How many times have I promised to do something and don’t follow through?  Isn’t that the same as lying?

God brings me to this verse:

Matthew 5:37 “All you need to say is simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

Usually this verse is used when people promise or swear an oath, but I really believe it’s more than that.  It goes down to the intention of my heart behind the words I speak.  Do I promise something knowing that I have no intention of ever doing that?  Do I tell a lie because my intention is to never look bad? 

God gently tells me that by doing this, it’s for the evil one.  If my words have no value, it’s because I’ve given into the evil one’s temptation.  Trust is a beautiful, precious gift.  It grieves me that I may have lost trust because of my choices and it grieves me that it is lost because of other’s choices. 

Our words are a window to our intentions.  Our intentions are the mirror of our hearts.  I challenge you to ask yourself:  what words are coming out of my heart?

That question has convicted me this week.  I praise God for that.  The more we shine His Light into our sin, the less that sin has any power over us.