Why Be TRUTHFUL? - Greed and selfish ambition are the motivers that impel many people to lie

Greed  and ambition are what impel many people to lie

Another factor behind lying is fear-fear of the consequences or of what others may think  (If you constantly worry about others think, you could drive yourself crazy. It is not important  what they think, it is what God thinks that is important, only God)  if the truth is told.  It is only natural that people wish to be liked or accepted by others.  This desire, however, can move them to distort the truth, even if only a little, in order to cover up shortcomings, to hide unflattering details,  or simply to leave a good impression.  Appropriately, Solomon wrote:  "Trembling at men is what lays a snare, but he that is trusting in Jehovah will be protected." -29:25.   (note:Jehovah is the one that will be doing the judging later, that is what you be concerned about, not what people think, they are imperfect sinful humans, God is perfect) 

Loyalty to the God of the Truth

What did Manfred say when the company executive asked him for an explanation?  Manfred told the truth.  He said:  "The teacher dismissed us early for the day, so I came to work. As for the others, I cannot speak for them. Perhaps you could ask them personally."

Manfred could have given a clever, misleading answer, thus making himself popular with the other trainees.  But he had good reasons for sticking loyally to the truth.  Manfred is one of Jehovah's Witnesses.  His honesty preserved his clean conscience.  It  also won him the trust of his employer.  As part of his training, Manfred was assigned to the jewelry department, where trainees were not normally allowed to work.  Some 15 years later when Manfred was promoted to a position of responsibility in the company, the same executive phoned to congratulate him and to recount this incident of integrity to the truth.

Since Jehovah is the God of truth, anyone wishing to have a close relationship with him must "put away falsehood" and "speak truth."  A servant of God ought to love truth.  "A faithful witness is one that will not lie? -Ephesians 4:25; Proverbs 14:5.

Next time: Why Be TRUTHFUL? - What Is a Lie?

The Watchtower, 2007