“Those who tell white lies will soon suffer from color blindness.”

—Unknown source

If every time you told a lie, your nose grew, would you stop telling them? Pinocchio was a wooden puppet who was given the opportunity to become a real boy, with only one condition, he had to listen and obey his conscience. Every time he told a lie, his nose would grow.

Pinocchio fought against his conscience. Over and over he had to decide between telling a lie and being embarrassed or telling the truth and missing out on the fun. On each occasion, it seemed to him that the lie was better than the truth. Over time, his conscience quieted down because he continually lied. But every time he told a lie, his nose grew and grew until it was three feet long; then he realized that he would never be a real boy.

Perhaps you, too, struggle within yourself with the bad habit of lying. You have goals in your work and the only way to get one more client is to promise something you can’t deliver. The day is coming to deliver something where his reputation is at stake and he declares that it is done when in fact he is still working on it. His loved ones will be harmed if he tells the truth, so he lies to protect them. Just like Pinocchio, you lie because it’s easy and because it seems like the best way out of your problems. However, at the end of it all, his lies affect his character and the identity that God has given him. You cannot lie forever and think that you will enjoy a life of faith in obedience to God’s will because…

“Behold, you [God] love the truth in your innermost being, and in secret you have made me understand wisdom.” (Psalms 51:6)

Examples of “little white lies”

  • I can’t say, “I’m too tired to go to your house”. I will hurt my mother’s feelings.

I’ll just say, “I have other plans.”

  • I can’t say, “I’m depressed”. But Christians are supposed to control their lives.

I’ll just say, “I have a headache.”

  • I can’t say, “I don’t want to go out with you.” I will hurt your feelings.

I’ll just say, “I’m going on a trip.”

  • I can’t say: “I forgot to read the book you gave me”. You’ll think I don’t appreciate your gift.

I’ll just say, “I haven’t finished reading it yet.”

  • I can’t say, “I haven’t sent you the check yet”. He’ll think I don’t want to pay him.

I’ll just say: “she’s already in the mail”.

  • I can’t say, “Dad is drunk”. He’s going to hate me.

I’ll just say, “He stayed home because he has the flu.”

“And there is no created thing that is not manifest in his presence; Rather, all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we have to give an account.” (Hebrews 4:13)

FEAR: External cause of lies

fallen nature

  • We are all born with a sinful nature. (Romans 3:23)
  • We have a natural tendency to distrust God, but he cannot lie. (Titus 1:2)
  • We naturally tend to listen to Satan, the father of lies. (John 8:44)
  • We want to deceive ourselves to hide from the truth. (Psalms 51:5)

Envy (Genesis 27:21,24)

  • We are jealous of others.
  • We want to harm others.
  • We desire personal or material gain.

Longing to be accepted (2 Chronicles 18:15–22)

  • We want to look good in front of others.
  • We want praise and recognition.
  • We seek our personal significance.

Self protection (Isaiah 28:15)

  • We don’t want to receive negative consequences.
  • We want to avoid being found out.
  • We want to avoid conflict.

“Therefore, putting aside falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor; because we are members one of the other”. (Ephesians 4:25)

When it’s hard to tell the truth

  • Recognize that he can’t please everyone. (Galatians 1:10)
  • Recognize that he is not responsible for the feelings of others. (Proverbs 9:7,9)
  • Acknowledge that he can speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
  • Recognize that you are not perfect. (Isaiah 53:6)
  • Recognize that you are not responsible for how others react to the truth. (2 Timothy 2:25,26)

Truth is a Treasure

“Jesus said to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

key verse to memorize

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; he guards the door of my lips.” (Psalms 141:3)

Key passage to read and meditate

Proverbs 6:16,19

How to get rid of deception and his repudiation against it and the deception. (Psalms 5:6)

  • Want to live in complete honesty and examine your motivations. (Psalms 51:6)
  • Decide to be completely honest with God and accept his failures. (1 John 1:8)
  • Find out the areas where he is tempted. Stop and think before you answer. (Psalms 141:3)
  • Decide to live to reflect the indwelling Christ. (Romans 8:29)
  • Trust in the strength you have in Christ to change. (Philippians 4:13)
  • Delight in the truth, which is more satisfying than lies. (Proverbs 28:13)

“He who covers his sins will not prosper; but he who confesses them and turns away will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

Know the consequences of living lying