Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. 

                                                                                                                 Proverbs 12:22 

When we think about the ninth commandment, we might say that it is a prohibition against lying. In the truest sense of the word, that is indeed what it is telling us. But the actual commandment states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). This is a specific kind of lying. It is a prohibition from speaking falsely about another person.

Many a reputation and life has been altered or destroyed by someone speaking falsehoods against another. When we say things about others that are not true, we are actually working to disrupt that person’s life. Just as we are not to murder or even be angry with each other, we certainly are not to speak untruthfully about others.

Lying, the great weapon of the tongue is not honoring to God and is highly inappropriate for born again believers in Jesus Christ. Today’s passage comes from the Proverbs and highlights the reality that God detests lying. We find this is in a parallel proverb as well. Consider the following:

There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood… 

                                                                                                           Proverbs 6:16-17 

We will have to read the rest of the proverb to find out the remaining four items on the list but for our purposes, it is worth noting that lying holds the second spot on the list. Living the Christian life requires being honest with God, with ourselves, and with one another.

If you have ever been in a situation in which you spoke a falsehood, you are aware of the conviction that can follow that indiscretion. For the believer, “correcting the record” or “clearing the air” becomes a necessity after speaking in such a manner. If we are able to go through life speaking falsehoods without any inward, spiritual reality check, I would have to say that void of conviction would probably indicate that we are in spiritual trouble. When we walk by the Spirit of God, we are not only to live in such a way that honors God, we are unable to habitually sin without the burden that comes from the convicting power of the Spirit.

Lying is an act of the tongue, but it often comes from a heart of deceit, bitterness, or anger. James tells us the destructive potential of the tongue:

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

                                                                                                            James 3:2 

And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

                                                                                                                     James 3:6-8 

If we are able to control our tongues, we are well on our way in controlling the rest of our body. The tongue is described in scripture as “a fire”, “the very world of iniquity”, and “a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” So much damage can be accomplished simply by speaking with an uncontrollable tongue. But again, we must remember that our words are merely fruit that exposes our true heart. When our hearts are right our tongues will follow suit.

We live in a world in which people will “scratch and claw” their way to the top only to find out that “the top” is not at all what they expected. When we have to verbally destroy others around us in order to gain access to what we desire, we deceive ourselves and we actually lose in the end. For the people of God, we are to speak honestly and to refrain from speaking falsehoods against others. In addition to worshiping God with our lips, let’s also honor others around us through our speech!