Doing What You Say

There seems to be a real problem with this, both in and out of the church.  People seem to not do what they say they are going to do.  

Question: are you a person that keeps your word, one that can be trusted?  Your word should be your bond, if not, people will think you are un-trustworthy and what you say will be considered just talk.  Did you ever hear about the boy who cried wolf?  When the real wolf came and he really needed help no one came to help him thinking that he was just lying again.

Lying can become a snare and a monkey on your back, so to speak.  There are people that have lied so often they have become what people call chronic liars, not seeming to know a lie from the truth.  In today’s society it is common practice to lie, but in God’s eyes all lying is sin, punishable by death.  The Bible says in Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death.”

Lying is very problematic and it is done in church far too often.  For instance, if someone walks up to a person and asks, “how are you today,” the response usually would be, “I am fine, how are you?”  The problem is how many people are really fine and how many are hiding their real feelings?  Saying you are fine, if you are not, is a lie.  And what about your conversations, how many times do you exaggerate your story to make them sound better, that is also a lie.  Saying what you mean and meaning what you say are very important because people are counting on you to keep your word.

When you are a Christian and you lie to someone that knows that you claim you are one, it causes your testimony great damage and your relationship may be in jeopardy also.  Some people may excuse themselves claiming it was just a ‘little white’ lie, let me remind you a lie is a lie regardless of whatever else we want to call it, just like a sin is a sin even when we try to dress it up and call it a mistake, it is still a sin in God’s eyes.  I know that calling a sin a sin may not be politically correct in the world we live in, but in God’s kingdom it is sin and we who teach or preach have a great responsibility to call it what it is.  This subject isn’t anything new it has been preached and taught for many years in various ways but it still seems to be an epidemic and needs to be continually brought up as a reminder for all of us because it seems that many of us are not heeding the message and the consequences that it may bring about in our lives.  

Do you remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-10?  It says, “But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.  Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart?  You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.  The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished.  And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away.  How could you do a thing like this?  You weren’t lying to us but to God!’  As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.  Everyone who heard about it was terrified.  Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.  About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  Peter asked her, ‘Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?’  ‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘that was the price.’  And Peter said, ‘How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this?  The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.’  Instantly, she fell to the floor and died.  When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.”

Their lying cost them immediate judgment?  Like the Bible says the wages of sin is death, it happened and came about without delay.  I would suggest that you read these verses, 1-10, very carefully and if you find yourself with this lying problem, I hope what it says in verse 11 will grab ahold of your heart.  This is what it says in Acts 5:11, “Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.”  God’s judgment was quick and final and brought about great fear on the church and all who heard it.  Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  So don’t sin by taking Him for granted like Ananias and Sapphira did.  

Take this verse to heart, it is in Psalms 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.  His praise endures forever.”  I hope this blog will be a useful tool in your battle against lying and you will be broken and repent if you are in this situation.  May the Lord bless you and yours and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!  Have a great day.