We know God hates lying. There is a story in Acts that tells us about Ananias and his wife Sapphira. I struggled with this until recently when the Lord brought it to mind. Lying has a way of coming out but in this instance the Holy Spirit revealed it to Peter. Ananias wanted the recognition of giving without really giving or giving with his heart and he then had his wife agree to the deception. His wife still had a chance to speak the truth later when asked directly by Peter but chose to lie herself. We are all guilty of lying, maybe some intentionally and some unintentionally. Most often it is to protect ourselves. We have the chance every day to choose truth. I have found it feels better and is easier than my lies of the past but God’s clean up can be tough.
Acts 2:1-9 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphire his wife sold a possession and he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has the satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” she said, “Yes for so much.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
I struggled with the severity of the punishment here but now understand that it shows how much God hates lying.
Proverbs 26:18-19 Like a mad man who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, I was only joking!”
Proverbs 13:5 A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are all members of one another.
The truth is truth not our opinions. Truth should always be spoken our thoughts and opinions can be kept more to ourselves. We are to speak truth yet also to speak to lift up others.
