Proverbs 21:6
A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a]
The liar thinks he is setting a snare or escaping it by lying. To gain treasure he thinks he escapes like a fleeting vapor. He tells his lies in order to snatch the treasure. But he is merely setting up his own snare and insuring that his treasure will escape. Ask the white collar executives in jail now because of their deception how much good their lying did them. Ask those who are bankrupt how much good cheating did for them.
The shocking surprise is that most of them will rue that they did not do a good enough job lying. Even now while lying in their snares they are mulling over how they should have covered their tracks better. That is the way of the fool. He does not learn from his consequences – especially the liar. Is there a more difficult pattern of behavior to break than that of lying? It is easy to do, and when it becomes so engrained as to be instinct, it is difficult to break.
All the more reason then to confess this sin now if it has you in its grasp. Husbands lying to wives, employees lying to supervisors, students lying to teachers… And all to gain treasure – affection, promotion, good grades. Break the habit now, for it will only grow more difficult and the snares will multiply.
How do you break the habit? By desiring true treasure – the grace of God – and by trusting in the one whose promise is not fleeting – God. How do you get to God? Through the one who has never lied and is truth personified – Jesus Christ.
Psalm 28
To you, Lord, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back on them what they deserve.5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.6 Praise be to the Lord,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.