Is honesty always the best policy?
In the Bible, there are a number of passages about lying. It's in the Ten Commandments, it's talked about in the book of proverbs and elsewhere through the bible.
Why do we lie? It's been my experience that the more we do, the worse things get. You tell someone a lie, they make a decision based on that lie, and the snowball goes downhill. You have to tell one lie, then another and another to cover up the first lie and most always it ends badly. Often you can tell a lie so many times it becomes your truth, and that's worse than the lie. When you start believing your own lies as truth, your perceptions of reality become jaded, in my humble opinion.
I've had my bouts with this. But not anymore. It seems that every time I've tried in my life to lie about things I've always been caught in them and it only makes things worse for me. I've found honesty is the best policy.
When does lying become stealing? It can happen. What if you lie about something, like when you're selling a car to someone. Or telling a lie to get what something you want. If you deceive someone and money is involved, isn't that stealing, too? Lies can do so much damage and in the end, is the satisfaction of the moment worth the cost down the road? Lies ruin reputations. They destroy trust.
What about the white lies? The little fibs like never honestly answering this question: "Does this dress make me look fat?" No man in his right mind would be dumb enough to start the fight, but sometimes you get put in a position that sparing someone's feelings might be worth the cost of that little fib. Sometimes you have to think of people's feelings when you lie and I understand that.
But not when people make decisions that affect their lives based on your answers. In these cases, I think being honest, not just with the other person, but with yourself, is very important. Sometimes the truth is hard to take, but in the end, I believe this little chestnut is right on the money..."The truth shall set you free".
Another consequence of telling lies is when people believe them. Then they find out you're lying to them and it just devastates them. It creates animosity, anger, and bitterness in the person you lied to. Sometimes it leads to hate. A lot of times, the person feels foolish for believing you in the first place and it leads them to not trust others, either. We can have a profound effect on how others even deal with people that aren't us and not even know it.
Another costly lesson I've learned in life, but one I'd encourage my readers to take to heart. Just be honest. Sometimes it'll cost you a little bit, but in the end, you can look at the person in the mirror and be happy that you have integrity, that people trust you, and that you can live with yourself and your God.
Why do we lie? It's been my experience that the more we do, the worse things get. You tell someone a lie, they make a decision based on that lie, and the snowball goes downhill. You have to tell one lie, then another and another to cover up the first lie and most always it ends badly. Often you can tell a lie so many times it becomes your truth, and that's worse than the lie. When you start believing your own lies as truth, your perceptions of reality become jaded, in my humble opinion.
I've had my bouts with this. But not anymore. It seems that every time I've tried in my life to lie about things I've always been caught in them and it only makes things worse for me. I've found honesty is the best policy.
When does lying become stealing? It can happen. What if you lie about something, like when you're selling a car to someone. Or telling a lie to get what something you want. If you deceive someone and money is involved, isn't that stealing, too? Lies can do so much damage and in the end, is the satisfaction of the moment worth the cost down the road? Lies ruin reputations. They destroy trust.
What about the white lies? The little fibs like never honestly answering this question: "Does this dress make me look fat?" No man in his right mind would be dumb enough to start the fight, but sometimes you get put in a position that sparing someone's feelings might be worth the cost of that little fib. Sometimes you have to think of people's feelings when you lie and I understand that.
But not when people make decisions that affect their lives based on your answers. In these cases, I think being honest, not just with the other person, but with yourself, is very important. Sometimes the truth is hard to take, but in the end, I believe this little chestnut is right on the money..."The truth shall set you free".
Another consequence of telling lies is when people believe them. Then they find out you're lying to them and it just devastates them. It creates animosity, anger, and bitterness in the person you lied to. Sometimes it leads to hate. A lot of times, the person feels foolish for believing you in the first place and it leads them to not trust others, either. We can have a profound effect on how others even deal with people that aren't us and not even know it.
Another costly lesson I've learned in life, but one I'd encourage my readers to take to heart. Just be honest. Sometimes it'll cost you a little bit, but in the end, you can look at the person in the mirror and be happy that you have integrity, that people trust you, and that you can live with yourself and your God.
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