5 Things Proverbs Says About Our Words Shembull

Day 2: Our speech should be truthful

The Bible teaches that truthful speech is the sign of a redeemed heart and that lying is a sin, the work of the enemy, and the product of a fallen nature. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord detests, and lying is mentioned twice! 

Throughout Scripture God’s people are told to speak the truth and that doing so is a sign of love for Him and others. 

The Book of Proverbs offers many instructions about the benefits of truth-telling and the dangers of lying. A few of these include: 

"Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight. A shrewd person conceals knowledge, but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity" (Proverbs 12:22-23 ESV).

"An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness utters lies" (Proverbs 14:5 ESV).

One way we can commit to truth-telling online is to pause before we engage, especially with posts that seem hard to believe. It’s just too easy to just scan a headline and think we know the whole story. Today we are long on skimming and short on actual details. But if we are indeed people who care about truth, we can’t form opinions without getting all of the facts. 

And sometimes the best way to commit to the truth is to seek discernment, which often dictates we say nothing at all. Proverbs 17:28 is a great verse for the social media age: “Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning, when he seals his lips.”

• How do you ensure you’re being truthful with all your speech? 
• Why is it damaging to relay information that you’ve not verified as being truthful?