Liars to the Left of Me, Liars to the Right of Me...

(Proverbs 30:8 KJV)  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

We do not want to be close to “vanity” (deception NASB) (7723) or “lies” (3577).  It was not clear to me on the first reading whether this is a plea to keep my behavior above board or to keep me away from people who practice these things.  I guess both would apply.

This is a prayer that I could and should make every day.  First, I am surrounded by lies and deception.  I read.  I listen.  I watch.  I am deceived.  I have heard that some courts will not accept photographs into evidence because the ability to use programs like Photoshop make it possible to deceive with what seems real.  It is necessary to keep our minds working and to keep asking how what we are hearing fits in with what we already know to be true.  When I read that the Bible says something, I go check it out.  Ultimately, if necessary, I will go to the oldest understandable translation, the KJV, to see what it says.  And I bathe all of this in a prayer that the Holy Spirit would give me the Spirit of truth.

The second part of this is about my actions.  It is so tempting to adjust what we say to make ourselves look just a little better.  Our words should be above reproach.  Our actions should be impeccable.  Did you know you can lie while you make a statement that is true?  That is because you don’t tell everything needed to establish truth.  You leave one key fact out and make your statement a deception.  I pray that God will guide my tongue and give me the spirit of truth in what I say.

So?  Do you think this is an impossible goal?  Then why are we told that false witness is a sin?  We may not be perfect every day and every moment, but it can certainly be a goal.  God help me.