Be Honest

Outlining yet another type of behavior that ruins a person's reputation in the community and his relationship with  God, Solomon continues: "A good-for-nothing man, a man of hurtfulness, is walking with crookedness of speech , winking  with his eye, making signs with his foot, making indications with his fingers. Perverseness is in his heart. He is fabricating something bad all the time. He keeps sending out merely contentions. -Proverbs 6:12-14. 

This description is that of a deceiver. A liar usually tries to conceal his untruthfulness. How? Not merely with crookedness of speech" but also with body language. One scholar points out:  "Gestures, tone of voice, and even facial expressions are calculated methods of deception; behind a facade of sincerity lurks  pervertedd  mind and spirit of discord."  Such a good-for-nothing man is fabricating evil schemes  and is causing contentions all the time. How will things turn out for him?

"That is why suddenly there will come his disaster," answers the king of Israel.  "In an instant he will be broken, and there will be no healing." (Proverbs 6:15) When he is exposed, the liar's reputations is ruined instantly.  Who will trust him again? His end is indeed disastrous, for "all the liars" are listed among those who will suffer everlasting death.  (Revelation 21:8) By all means, let us "conduct ourselves honestly in all things." -Hebrews 13:18. 

Next time: Hate What Jehovah Hates

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000