DON'T BE LIKE (PART 1)

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

Proverbs 25:18     

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The reaction was telling.

One of my colleagues at work learned that a client wanted to file a complaint about her with the company management, alleging that she had not offered support to a military family group. My colleague trains and advises military family group leadership members.

Now, knowing my colleague and the level of care, dedication, and devotion she applies to ensuring military families are cared for properly, it was painfully obvious that the allegations were completely false and someone was just trying to stir up trouble. I say it was “painfully” obvious because of the pain it caused my colleague when she received word that the complaint was being raised. It really hurt her and it would have hurt me as well if I was in her place.

With this, it was ironic how this proverb just happened to come into play as I continue to write through the proverbs, many of which, like this one, is attributed to Solomon. Look at what he had to say about the impact of false testimony:

Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. Proverbs 25:18

Through this proverb and the two others that will follow, God is sending a message to us, His people, about how we are not to relate to one another. Today, the message is this:

“Don’t be like” a club or sword or sharp arrow, injuring another with false testimony.

In the case of my colleague, the false complaint being waged against her harmed her deeply. The person who was telling the falsehood may as well hit her over the head with a club with the intent of knocking her out because face it, people often try to spread falsehood to get someone out of the way, to get them eliminated (in this case, fired or reprimanded). Indeed, spreading lies about another can be fatal like running through them with a sword or piercing them with a sharp arrow slung by a bow strung with dishonesty and deceit.

Friends, the Lord is not going to stand for this kind of behavior. He knows the inner most motives of the human heart and easily sees lies from truth. Fabricating stories to try and injure another is just plain sin and the Lord who despises sin will not allow those actions to go unpunished.

We should think about that the next time we try to hurt another through rumor spreading or falsehood. For the consequences the Lord will levy in response will be far more damaging to the perpetrator than the ones suffered by the victim. Know and trust that He swings a meaner club, skillfully wields a more dangerous sword, and is a master archer who never misses the mark with His arrows.

We would be well served to not place ourselves in a position where He has to use those against us.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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