Remember the Greek philosopher Diogenes, wandering the streets of Athens with a lantern, searching for a single honest man? What most people don’t know is that Diogenes was a Cynic, and his “quest” was geared less toward actually finding an honest man than toward proving that no such man existed.

We live in a world where people speak constantly with little regard for whether what they say is true. In fact, we become so inundated with disingenuousness in every facet of life that when we see or hear plain, honest speech or behavior, it leaps out at us as something completely outside the norm.

I was reminded of this last Saturday evening, as Karla and I ventured into AT&T Park to see a Giants game with some of her coworkers. Outside the ballpark sat several homeless people with cardboard placards, pleading for money. One scruffy fellow huddled on the sidewalk holding a handmade sign that read: “NO LIE — I WANT MONEY FOR BEER.” I did not give that man any money, but I had to admit to myself that I found his honesty refreshing.

We often hear the maxim, “Honesty is the best policy.” The actions of most people, however, demonstrate how little credence they give to that old line. People are generally convinced that lying is self-preservation. They will bend, even break, the truth if they suppose it will get them out of some trouble, or give them some advantage. Of course, the preservation or advantage evaporates once the lie is found out, as it surely will be eventually.

Twice Abraham lied about the true nature of his relationship with Sarah, once in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20) and again years later in Gerar (Genesis 20:1-18). On both occasions, Abraham put forth the half-truth that Sarah was his sister (she was in fact his half-sister, but more importantly, she was his wife), ostensibly to preserve his life from men who might have slain him to possess her. Both lies caused far more harm than good, and placed Sarah at great personal risk. These actions stand as rare blemishes on the life of a great man of faith.

A lie contributed to the downfall of Israel’s first king. When God sent the Israelite army against wicked Amalek, He gave command that the nation and all its possessions should be destroyed utterly. Saul, however, saw fit to spare Agag, the king of Amalek, as well as the best of the Amalekite flocks and herds. When Samuel the prophet came to Saul to indict him for his wrongdoing, Saul sought to hide behind a falsehood — “I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:13). Samuel showed Saul that the evidence against him was obvious to anyone: “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of oxen which I hear?” Such selfishness led to the kingdom being taken from Saul, and given to David.

One of the most notorious lies in Scripture is the one told by Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). This couple sold a piece of property, donating a portion of the proceeds to the apostles for distribution to needy saints. Perhaps not wishing to appear parsimonious, Ananias told Peter that the contribution represented the entire sale price of the property. Peter rebuked Ananias, reminding him that he was under no obligation to give any part of the money, but that in lying about it to the apostles he had in reality lied to God. Ananias fell dead at Peter’s words, as did his wife later when she repeated the falsehood.

Jesus said concerning the devil, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). Those who follow Satan in lies will have the opportunity to spend eternity with him: “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

When we speak, we should speak as if uttering oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11), whose word is truth (John 17:17). “Let everyone speak the truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25), for as Solomon rightly observed, “The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19).