THE TRUTH ABOUT LYING
EPHESIANS 4:25
NARRATIVE SEGMENT 1
Our story focuses on a young boy named Tim. Most people call him little Tim because his father’s name is Tim as well. His whole family is in the sheep business. If it has to do with sheep, their family does it. Anyway, on Tim’s 10th birthday, his father decided he was of age to take on more responsibility in the family business. Tim would be in charge of the flocks in the fields. Now, this was actually an important job. Sheep are dumb animals and will walk off a cliff if no one watches them. Also, you have to watch out for coyotes and wolves and wild dogs; they prey on sheep all the time. Tim’s job was to protect the sheep. He was given a staff, an alarm bell, and the trust of his father.
We should realize based on what Paul has told us in Ephesians 4, that the world we live in has contradictory ways of thinking, values, and boundaries than the Christian world. Paul now begins to focus on some specific areas that Christians are different from nonChristians. He begins with honesty.
READ EPHESIANS 4:25
ILLUSTRATION… Daily Bread, September 1991
A USA Today poll found that only 56% of American teach honesty to their children. And a Louis Harris poll turned up the distressing fact that 65% of high school students would cheat on an important exam. Recently a noted physician appeared on a network news-and-talk show and proclaimed, "Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems."
ILLUSTRATION… Barna.org
Intentional deceit is another plague riddling our society. One-third of all adults (32%) claim that "the way things are these days, lying is sometimes necessary.”
We live in a world where truthfulness and lies are no longer able to be distinguished. We live in a world where students make a great effort to cheat. We live in a world that thinks it is necessary to lie to get by. Paul points out in Ephesians that as Christians, we are to be people committed to the truth. The general character of this new person we have become is one who is committed to “true righteousness and holiness.”
NARRATIVE SEGMENT 2
Tim is a young man with a good sense of humor. He had been on the job out in the fields for a few weeks now and his father was quite pleased with his work. He had not lost one sheep yet. As I said, he is a young man with a good sense of humor (sometimes over the top). He decided one day to play a trick on his father and the other workers. Around lunch time or so, he began to yell, “wolf! wolf!” and started to ring the alarm bell he was given. His father and all the hired hands came running from the main farm to defend the flocks. All they found when they arrived, all the sheep were safe and there was little Tim laughing as hard as he could.
I. TRUTH FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE
It seems to me that lying is one of the oldest sins and is the weapon of choice for Satan. After all, Satan is known as “the father of lies.” Scripture has much to say about lying and falsehood whether it is by example, or a teaching passage like Ephesians 4:25.
In the Garden of Eden, Satan lied to Eve and tempted her to eat the fruit (Genesis 3:4-5). Later, Adam and Eve lied to God about what they had done and tried to avoid responsibility (Genesis 3:12-13). The result of these lies was that Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16) given to Moses and the people of Israel contained the command, “thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Truthfulness and honesty is one of the foundations of society that God laid down. In addition, I see Jesus being a man who was on the receiving end of many lies during His life. The religious leaders falsely accused Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard (Matthew 11:19) and even accused Him of being demon-possessed and a blasphemer when He healed and forgave sins (Matthew 9:2-6, Mark 2:7, Luke 5:21). Who can forget Simon Peter lying three times about knowing Jesus on the very evening of His trial (John 18: 25-27)?
All of these passages speak about lying and falsehood. All of these passages show that truthfulness is something to be valued and is something we should hold dear. Ephesians 4:25 points out a very important reason for being trustworthy (if you need a reason). Paul says that we are all part of one another and are all members in the same body. We are all part of the Body of Christ and so should do whatever we can to build it up. Our relationships with one another should be valued and we should not jeopardize them with dishonesty and lies.
NARRATIVE SEGMENT 3
Tim loved the little prank. He had never laughed so hard. The next day, he became bored, and again decided to play a trick. Around3 o’clock or so, he began to yell, “the coyotes are here!” and started to ring the alarm bell he was given. Again, his father and all the hired hands came running from the main farm to defend the flocks. All they found when they arrived, all the sheep were safe and there was little Tim laughing as hard as he could.
II. CONSEQUENCES OF LIES
1) Creates Conflicts
2) Destroys Trustworthiness
3) Alienates us from God
NARRATIVE SEGMENT 4
It was Tim’s one-month anniversary on the job. He had successfully kept the sheep safe all month! He went to work as usual and had a wonderful day. About quitting time, Tim spotted something moving in the trees. He became very frightened! He almost froze stiff! But, he knew that he was the only hope for the flocks. Just as he began to ring the alarm bell he heard growls coming from the bushes and little Tim yelled as loud as he could, “wolf, coyote, wild dogs, help!” No one came. The growls became louder. Little Tim decided to rush the animal in the bushes and defend the sheep, he was all alone! Just as he was about to bash the beast in the bush, his father jumped from behind the bushes and tackled him. Tim almost lost his lunch.
His father, Big Tim, stood over him and simply asked him, “Son, why did no one come to your aid?” Little Tim looked up at his father through teary eyes and said, “Because the other times I lied and this time no one believed me!”
His father gently helped his son to the ground and said, “Son, what if there had been a wolf? There are many things I expect from you, but one of the most important ones, is honesty.”
ILLUSTRATION… Dr. Bob Nancy Shulins, Journal News, Nyack, NY
Bob Harris, weatherman for NY TV station WPIX-TV and the nationally syndicated independent Network news, had to weather a public storm of his own making in 1979. Though he had studied math, physics and geology at three colleges, he left school without a degree but with a strong desire to be a media weatherman. He phoned WCBS-TV, introducing himself as a Ph.D. in geophysics from Columbia U. The phony degree got him in the door. After a two-month tryout, he was hired as an off-camera forecaster for WCBS. For the next decade his career flourished. He became widely known as "Dr. Bob." He was also hired by the New York Times as a consulting meteorologist. The same year both the Long Island Railroad and then Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn hired him.
Forty years of age and living his childhood dream, he found himself in public disgrace and national humiliation when an anonymous letter prompted WCBS management to investigate his academic credentials. Both the station and the New York Times fired him. His story got attention across the land. He was on the Today Show, the Tomorrow Show, and in People Weekly, among others. He thought he’d lose his home and never work in the media again. Several days later the Long Island Railroad and Bowie Kuhn announced they would not fire him.
Then WNEW-TV gave him a job. He admits it was a dreadful mistake on his part and doubtless played a role in his divorce. "I took a shortcut that turned out to be the long way around, and one day the bill came due. I will be sorry as long as I am alive."
CONCLUSION
Who are we to be honest with?
What does our Heavenly Father expect of us as His children?
When is it ok to lie?
Where does lying get us ?
Why does Satan love to use lies when it comes to Christians and their faith?
How will our Heavenly Father look on those who have committed themselves to falsehood?
