“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” (Proverbs 14:8)
A lie is a powerful tool. It can definitely get you out of a tough spot. A good lie might even help you to get exactly what you want in any given moment.
But telling a lie is also like pushing the button on a time-bomb when you can’t see the clock. You never know when it’s going to go off, but you always know it’s going to blow up in your face eventually.
Unless you’re a fool. Then you’re positive you’ll get away with it forever.
The wise person makes a choice ahead of time: I’m taking lying off of my menu of options. I’m going to do the harder work of “giving thought to my ways,” of figuring out an honest strategy to solve the problem even if it costs more time, money, or effort than hiding the truth.
Think: Is lying still on your menu of options? If so, how often do you select it? What’s keeping you from removing it?
Pray: Ask God to help you to give thought to your ways and to reject the folly of deception.
Do: Notice this week how often you make the foolish choice to sacrifice truth for convenience.