The Apostle James wrote about the most dangerous part of the human body.
He said: ‘ It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison(James 3:8). He was referring to a tongue.
The Ninth Commandment talks about this dangerous part of our bodies(Exodus 20:16). This commandment deals with people who lie about others. The example is a false witness who lies about another person in court. In court it is important to speak only the truth. Anybody who lies in court could rob someone else of his good name, of his property, of his freedom, even of his life. A false witness is always a liar(Exodus 23:1-3).
It is so easy to spread false rumours about other people. Such stories usually start with ‘They say’ or ‘I hear’. Today we easily make people think badly of others, just by asking questions like, ‘Can he really be trusted?’ If you hear someone telling a lie about someone else, and you keep quiet when you know the truth, you are an accomplice in that lie. If you do not whole-heartedly defend the truth, you are a liar too.
It is good to encourage others by telling them what you like about them. But if you tell untruths about such people just to win their favour, you are a liar. Sometimes we as people have a habit of only looking for bad things to say about others. Nobody is perfect, but if you do not tell the good things about somebody as well, your hearers will think that he or she is only a bad person. If we speak badly about people behind their backs, we really hurt them.
They are not given the opportunity to defend themselves. If they could tell the full truth, it could give a totally different meaning to their actions. These lies could discourage such people and tempt them to do the very things they are accused of.
Without a listener, there could be no lie. The listener becomes part of the lie, and conveys it to the next person, thinking it is the truth. The Bible says that what you sow you shall reap(Galatians 6:7-8).
If you tell lies about other people, it will come back to you. Jesus says that it is dangerous and foolish to judge others while you are yourself far from being perfect(Matthew 7:1-5).
All liars are placed by Him in the lake of burning fire and sulphur, which is the second death. Let us try to see the good in every person. Let us speak what is good about others. The Bible says: ‘Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed so that what you say will do good to those who hear’ (Ephesians 4:29).
If we love our neighbours then we should not talk badly of them. God is truth and the devil is the father of lies. Therefore we must hate all lies and love the truth. Stay blessed in Jesus mighty Name
Message by Pastor Andrias Tumahole
