The Power of Lies

Proverbs 25:18 (New Living Translation)

18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

Receiving criticism can cause us pain, but as this verse shows, we can be harmed even more severely by words that are not spoken to our faces. For instance, a rumor can devastate a person's reputation. Sadly, Western culture is so charmed by gossip that it has magazines, television shows, and Internet sites dedicated to spreading vicious information about people. But God's standard for His people is different from the world's standard. We must be honest when talking about others. Gossip should not be found in our churches. Make a commitment today to tell the truth in love about others.