Do you love the truth?  How do you know?
     This is an important question because God says that he wants people to live out steadfast love.  It is better to be poor for clinging to the truth than lie and get ahead (Proverbs 19:22).  Furthermore, the Scriptures teach that lying is not neutral, but an imitation of the evil one: "[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."  John 8:44.

     Here are some characteristics that I've seen in myself and others when avoiding the truth.  If we're not careful, these things point to a heart that does not ultimately love truth as much as it loves itself and comfort: 

            1) Does it pain you to see lies perpetuated?  Even if the lie inflates

            your good qualities or accomplishments?

            2) Do you celebrate when people are loved or does your heart

            rejoice in the downfall of others; even your enemies?

            3) Do you enjoy excess or do you delight in moderation?

            4) Would you rather ignore a hard reality or embrace it and move

            past it?

            5) Are you conflicted when you know that telling someone the

            truth will hurt them?  Does your conflict arise from love or self-

            preservation?  (Is it others or self-centered?)

These questions are not God-breathed, but they do arise from that which is; the Scriptures.  Note the connections here.  The questions above correspond to the Scriptures and comments below:

            1S) Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

            Some of the hardest lies to combat are lies that veil our own sins and deficiencies.  Still, "these" says the Lord, are "evil things."

            2S) Proverbs 24:17-18 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

            Love and truth are intimately tied.  Truth carries with it a sense of endurance and longevity; truth is that which will be as it is today, tomorrow and the next day.  Love is that which gives of itself for the good of another.  Therefore, love and truth must be partners since only good things will last eternally.  
 
            3S) Proverbs 25:16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. Proverbs 13:25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.  Proverbs 30:15-16 The leech has two daughters; "Give" and "Give," they cry.  Three things are never satisfied; four never say, "Enough": Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, "Enough."

            I love chocolate chip cookies.  I love M&M's.  Put them together and I'm a happy man.  The problem is that my eyes and my appetite seem to believe that more is better.  I see the things I want and I am tempted to grasp for more than what is good for me.  Even my taste buds stop responding the same way to tasty things after a few of them!  There is something about the way God has made us that good things cannot be hoarded without consequences.  The wise among us will grow to delight in limits, not pursue excess.  Do you love the truth?  If we would love the truth, we will learn to overcome our appetites and walk according to ways that will endure; ways that reflect limits.  

            4S & 5S) Ephesians 4:15 "...Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."  Proverbs 27:5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

            Unless you're deranged with an ungodly appetite for injuring others, it's never fun to tell someone something hurtful.  The hard reality, though, is that what hurts us isn't always aligned with what is best for us.  So, sometimes, in order to do what is best, saying hurtful thing is the most loving thing to do.  In those times, there can be a satisfaction associated with bringing truth to bear on the circumstance.  Still, we have to examine our hearts and let the Holy Spirit examine us as well.  When it comes time to tell someone a hard thing, what is the motive behind it for you?  Do you want to injure the person, get vengeance for hurt feelings?  Do you want to prove to them and others how smart you are?  Be careful, those who love the truth do not rejoice in injury, but the wise person will understand that the best medicines can have a sour taste.

Oh God, please rescue me, and those who read this blog, from deceit wherever it would be found in us.  From the love of self to the permitting of inaccuracies, let us be people who love the truth, Lord.  Because truth will endure, you love the truth, and Jesus is the Truth.  Amen.