Truth Telling

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:22

Today we talked about lying again. When I asked about a damaged container, David’s response was I don’t know. I asked both children several times what happened, with the same response. Since Bethel at age three still doesn’t see the need to deceive in these situations, I figured that David knew more than he was telling and persisted in asking him what happened. Finally, he admitted that he jumped on the container and broke it. I asked if he knew what God thinks about lying, and David’s response was again, I don’t know. So we looked up this passage. We defined abomination, and I asked him again what God thinks of lying. He got the answer right, this time! I asked him if he lied because he didn’t want to get in trouble for breaking the toy bucket, and he answered yes. I want to help him understand the desire to cover up sin, and the motives he might have for lying. That’s why I asked the question. (We’ve talked before about covering sin.) I didn’t want to stop there, though, because the second part of the passage talks about what God loves. So I asked David what God thinks when we tell the truth. Then we talked about how much God loves truth-telling, even if it means it is hard to tell the truth.

I’m almost ready to give consequences for lying. I still feel like he believes “I don’t know” isn’t really lying because he’s not saying one way or the other what happened.  In retrospect, I think that’s why I need to emphasize that God loves truth telling, because truth telling is the opposite of deceit as well as lying. But the issue has come up more frequently, so I think God is giving more teaching opportunities in this area. I am praying I’ll be sensitive to teaching opportunities, as well that God will help me use this time to share more of the gospel with him.

As for me, I’ve got a thick skull, because the last month or so of Wisdom Wednesdays are recurring themes in my life. Passages on dependence on God, transparency, laziness, anger: these keep going through my mind, and I suspect I need to do more thinking on these same topics, instead of moving from simple thought to simple thought. I keep thinking, how is God’s Word changing me today? Every time, this is a convicting thought.

So… how is God’s Word changing you lately? Here is the page where I explain Wisdom Wednesday  and provide code for the WW header and buttons if you decide to comment on your own blog. Or just share in the comments.