Proverbs 13 Devotional Study

Lying won’t get you what you really want

Remember the rush of getting away with a little white lie as a child?

Maybe you said you cleaned your room when really you stashed the entire mess under your bed. Maybe you said you ate your vegetables as you slid that hunk of broccoli to the family dog under the table.

The lies we told as kids seem insignificant now. But left uncorrected, lying is a sinful habit we can carry into adulthood.

Lying takes many forms in Proverbs 13 — speaking carelessly and saying things we don't mean, pretending to be someone we’re not, saying we don't need help when we do, conning others to make money, saying one thing and doing another.

As adults we’re no longer trying to convince our parents we ate our broccoli, we’re trying to convince others we're a different version of ourselves. We lie when we feel like there is something to hide. Proverbs 13:7 describes this tendency perfectly: “One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.”

God made each of us unique and special. It doesn’t matter if we’re rich, poor, happy, sad, if we care about who wins the Super Bowl or not. We are God’s children made on purpose, for a purpose, and with a purpose. And, the sooner we stop striving to make our lives what we think they should be, the sooner we can begin building the life God made us to see.

Where the fool’s life is full of pretense and drama, “a God-loyal life keeps you on track” and “a plain and simple life is a full life” (Proverbs 13:6-7, MSG). The wise and godly don’t experience the rush of getting away with a lie, but they also don’t experience the consequences of getting caught in one.

Reflect:

Proverbs 13:1  A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. 

Proverbs 13:2  A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. 

Proverbs 13:3  He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. 

Proverbs 13:4  The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 

Proverbs 13:5  A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. 

Proverbs 13:6  Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. 

Proverbs 13:7  There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. 

Proverbs 13:8  The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. 

Proverbs 13:9  The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. 

Proverbs 13:10  Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. 

Proverbs 13:11  Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. 

Proverbs 13:12  Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. 

Proverbs 13:13  Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. 

Proverbs 13:14  The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. 

Proverbs 13:15  Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. 

Proverbs 13:16  Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. 

Proverbs 13:17  A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. 

Proverbs 13:18  Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. 

Proverbs 13:19  The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. 

Proverbs 13:20  He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 

Proverbs 13:21  Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. 

Proverbs 13:22  A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. 

Proverbs 13:23  Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. 

Proverbs 13:24  He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. 

Proverbs 13:25  The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. 



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