Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body – Ephesians 4:25.
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices – Colossians 3:9.
There are few things so destructive in relationships as lies. It causes conflict and undermines trust between believers. When everyone is telling lies to one another it is impossible to maintain healthy relationships. In most cases it only takes one lie to destroy a friendship that has lasted for years.
Paul says as God’s family we should always speak truthfully to one another, for together we form the body of Christ. When you lie to someone, you do not only hurt the one you are lying to, but eventually also yourself. For what is absorbed by the stomach and flows through the body, influences the whole body and eventually also the stomach again as part of the body.
The truth can unfortunately also be abused to tear one another down, rather than to build each other up. That is why Paul makes it very clear that the truth should always be spoken in a loving way. He writes in Ephesians 4:15, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Our motive to share something with others should always be to build them up in love, and not to tear them down.
Lord, teach us to love the truth and to always speak the truth to one another in love. Amen.