Operation Deception

The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

– Proverbs 12:22

“With lies you may go ahead in the world,” says the Russian proverb, “but you can never go back.”

This saying reminds us of the importance of credibility and character. And it’s also a sobering message to the press. In late 2022, Gallup — the global analytics and advice firm — reported that just 7% of Americans have "a great deal" of trust and confidence in the media, and only 27% have "a fair amount." Meanwhile, 28% of U.S. adults say they have little confidence, while 38% have absolutely none in newspapers, TV, and radio.

Once we've lost our credibility through lies, deception, and betrayal, how can we ever retrieve it? That’s the tough question King Solomon poses through Proverbs 11:3: “People who can’t be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty.” And there happen to be several ways that we can hurt ourselves and others through our questionable words and deeds. For example, flattery is a form of lying since it tells people what they want to hear — regardless of its veracity. We can also be dishonest through exaggeration. Likewise, cheating (or fudging the truth so we come out on top) is a particularly serious issue since it can impact personal and business relationships. What’s more, we also lie when we break our promises. Jesus touched on that by directing his followers to avoid the common practice of using God’s name to lend credibility to their words.

Dishonesty is like a heavy chain that weighs us down and holds us back. But the truth — and the clear conscience that accompanies it — is liberating. Of course, walking the walk after talking the talk can be difficult. And conveying honesty and integrity can even cost us something in certain situations. As Christ-followers, however, we must always reflect the words and deeds of our Creator, who’s always faithful and dependable:

“God is not a man, so He doesn’t lie,” we read in Numbers 23:19. “He’s not human, so He doesn’t change his mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?”

That’s what the Bible says about Him. So, whenever we’re tempted to tweak the truth to get ahead or avoid a difficult situation, let’s take a moment to consider what our words and deeds say about us.