Pro 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Our words follow us.
Once spoken, we must live with the consequences of our choice of words.
In my last post I mentioned the leverage or advantage that a liar is trying to gain over a person or situation. This verse adds to our understanding of the liar’s situation by pointing out that the choice to lie is made for the moment. The lies advantage is only a short time gain. This is because of the inherent liability that dishonesty creates. Lies require upkeep. The liar must remember who heard the lie and when the lie was told. He must remember the specific details of each and every lie. But the exhaustion of the task is not over yet. The liar must maintain the perception that they are honest. For if their dishonesty is discovered they lose the advantage they so desperately desired. And, not only do they lose the present advantage, they also lose any future advantage. Honesty is a fragile trust. It is broken by lies.
| Truthful | Lying |
| Lips | Tongue |
| Forever | A moment |
This proverb contrasts three sets,
Let’s consider a few observations from the contrasts. Notice that the lips are the gate of speech. Closed lips restrain all words. (except for the mumbler) When open, the lips allow everything in the heart to be spoken. (Matt 12:34 “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” ESV) As the gatekeepers, the lips are to restrain those words that should not be spoken. I’m sure your mother, like mine, has told you to ‘keep your mouth closed’ when you offered words she didn’t think was nice. Very apt advice when ill chosen words may escape. A careless tongue may slip past the gatekeepers watchfulness and say things that would have better been kept to oneself. James had much to say about the unchecked tongue. We would all agree with his words, James 3:8, “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (ESV)
This brings us to our second observation. To the listener, a truth and a lie can be believed. That is the inherent power of the liar’s leverage. The liar wants to convince you that his lie is believable. He may have obstacles to overcome to get you to believe his lie but he is willing to overcome them to gain the advantage his lie creates. The truth is unyielding and doesn’t ‘bend’ like a lie. It is sufficient to itself and doesn’t care whether it is advantageous to you or anybody’s situation. That is why it is an obstacle to the liar.
Lastly, observe the vast power of ‘a moment’. One momentary slip can bring about ‘forever’ changes. This is often seen in the ‘liar’s remorse’. The flaws in the liar’s plans include; the discovery of the lie, the knowledge of the truth and the loss of future trust. All of these bring ruin upon the liar. He loses his advantage and has recklessly bargained away his reputation. He has lost the tool the liar needs most: the listener’s trust. Without it he is unbelievable and will hear the words, “Why should I believe you anymore?” His moment is gone. He is truly sorry… that he got caught. Trust is not a commodity to be bought or sold. It is hard earned and as he has learned, easily lost. Truth can be told forever but when caught in a lie it is a ‘one and done’.
Solomon’s words give us good reason to close our lips more often. Perhaps you lost the trust of a dear friend because you risked everything and told them a lie. Maybe you thought in the moment, ‘they’ll never find out’ and had to face them when they discovered your lie. That memorable, miserable moment mattered. And now you are known as a liar and that relationship may never recover. The temptation of an “advantageous lie”… is a lie in itself. Lies do not benefit the liar in the long term. Let’s heed Solomon’s warning.
These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another…
Zechariah 8:16
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