The importance of being a truth-teller
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It has been said that "nothing is too small that it can't be blown out of proportion." As believers we need to be truth tellers. We need to be extremely careful that we never "blow the truth out of proportion"
We need to be careful with the things we say with our lips, so that we develop a reputation for always being honest in every aspect of our lives, unlike the chairman of a local chamber of commerce I read about.
He had to introduce a speaker of the organization's annual black-tie affair. He introduced the speaker with the following words: "The man I am about to introduce is someone I know you are going to enjoy listening to. He is the most gifted businessman in the country. He made one hundred million dollars in California oil."
The speaker came to the podium rather embarrassed. "Mr. Chairman," he said, "Thank you for the wonderful introduction. However, the facts need some clarification. It wasn't oil, it was coal. It wasn't in California, it was in Pennsylvania. It wasn't one hundred million dollars. It was only one hundred thousand. And it wasn't me. It was my brother, and he didn't make it, he lost it."
Hopefully, unless we are fisherman, not any of our conversations are as untruthful as this man's introduction.
Paul writes in Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him."
Solomon reminds us that "lying lips are an abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 12:13).
As believers we are called to be truthful in every area of our life. Let us never give anyone reason to question our truth telling ability.
When we speak, let us "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). And if we can't speak it in love, then it is not yet ready to be spoken.
Speaking the truth and always being honest have several advantages. You will never have to remember your lies, which often take more energy to remember than just being honest. And secondly, you will earn the trust and respect of others who will know they can always trust you and your word.
Let's all work together to stop "truth decay."
 | Tom Crenshaw serves as Connections Pastor of the New Monmouth Baptist Church (non denominational) where he previously served as a three year interim.He has been married to Jean for almost 50 years, and they have four children, all of whom are teachers.Tom loves perennial gardening, umpiring high school baseball, coaching baseball and football, fishing for small mouth bass, rooting for his favorite team, the Cleveland Indians, and listening to ‘real’ country music, the classic kind. Learn More » |
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