Proverbs 30 - Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

"Every word of God is pure;

He is a shield to those who trust in Him.

Do not add to His words, 

Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar."

~ Proverbs 30:5-6

 

Throughout the Bible, we are warned not to lie. The ninth commandment tells us, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." False witness = Lie. Proverbs 19:22 says, "What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar." 

In Revelation, we find the consequence for liars: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (21:8)

Lying is lying no matter what size the lie is. God says that all sin is equal, with the exception of blaspheming His Holy Spirit. And that is the worst sin of all. So whether one tells a little white lie or outright and blatantly lies, they are the same in the eyes of God. 

Proverbs 30 says that every word of God is pure. God does not lie. He cannot tell a lie. He is righteous and true.

It also explains that we are not to add to His words. So many times people are hurt or offended by others who try to add to God's words. A friend mentioned in a previous comment how someone tried telling her how to dress appropriately. Knowing her heart, I'm certain she wasn't being indecent in any manner. Yet another person found it necessary to take her opinion and add it to God's word.

God tells us it's our inward beauty that is important to Him, not our outward appearance. "Do not let your adornment be merely outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel - rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:2-4)

Notice God is concerned with our heart more than He's concerned with our apparel. He desires inward beauty - a gentle and quiet spirit. A gentle and quiet spirit isn't concerned with the apparel of a Christian sister who's been serving the Lord long enough to know better than to wear revealing clothing. She isn't going to add to God's words.

We need to beware of what we desire to tell another person, making certain we stick to God's word, not adding our own thoughts to it. God knows our inward heart. And He will judge us by it one day.

I know I don't want to end up in that lake of fire!

Photo Courtesy of Sam Judge