05/17/10

The giraffe and the bison... what a combination. Of course, they are not in the same area, just decided to put them together today. Could you imagine seeing one of those bison out on the plains as the settlers and Native Americans did long ago? I definitely wouldn't want to get in the way of THEM.

Today the teachers at the lunch table got on the topic of lying.

It is funny that we should get on that topic when our Sunday School lesson yesterday was on that very thing.

Our SS teacher brought up the fact that the real "first" sin in the world was not Adam and Eve eating the fruit... it was of Eve telling a lie. I had taught this many times, and even talked about Eve lying, but never thought of it as where sin all began before eating the fruit. Here is the "story behind the story:"

• God had told Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:16-17 "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." When Satan tempted Eve he asked her if she couldn't eat of every tree of the garden. Eve's reply? "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."

God didn't say if they touched the fruit they would die. This was Eve adding a little spin... a lie.. on to what God had said.

In Proverbs 6 we can read the seven sins that the Lord hates. Did you realize lying is spoken of twice and is right behind "a proud look?" It is the only sin like that is mentioned twice. God HATES lying.

We were discussing lying at lunch today because we are seeing children who will stand right before an authority figure and lie without blinking an eye. It is quite disheartening to see children who are not afraid of authority and can lie at the drop of a hat. It can also be very hard for the adult in charge when you have two children saying the opposite thing about a situation and you have no idea who to believe!

Lying is a heart issue.

As we were talking about it I couldn't help but think that lying also goes back to that "PRIDE" factor. It shows that a person doesn't want to admit to doing something wrong. The person would rather cover it up instead of admitting a wrong and taking the consequences. The person may even think they are "too good" and should not have to abide by whatever is asked.

Are we keeping our children accountable?

Are we using God's Word to get to the HEART of the matter?

Is a situation taken lightly and brushed aside with the thought of "My child would NEVER lie!"

All people (including our children!) CAN and do lie... they can "stretch the truth," as some people like to call it, to make things sound good for them. I have seen it in my own children and in adults!

Satan is the author of confusion and lies. We must be careful as adults to ask the Lord for discernment and make sure that we are setting the right example in front of our children. That example should be from our own lips, but also setting the example of giving consequences or supporting those in authority over our children when lying has been revealed.

I find it interesting when I hear some parents say "Oh, that teacher (or authority figure) is just out to get my child."

As a teacher, and one that sees these behaviors, I disagree with that thought process. We have a heavy responsibility when teaching and guiding these children each day. That responsibility is not always the "Readin', Writin' and 'Rithmetic".... it is character building so that one day they can be a trustworthy and dependable adult!

Psalm 119:29
Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

Psalm 120:2
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Psalm 40:4
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.