Have you been shopping lately? Many of us do some shopping every week to varying degrees. I read the following story recently and wanted to share it with you. It is humorous but also contains a good lesson. I can certainly imagine a scene like this unfolding in any number of stores.

A store manager heard his clerk tell a customer, "No ma'am we haven't had any for a while, and it doesn't look as if we'll be getting any soon..."

Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, "Of course we'll have some soon! We placed an order last week." Then the manager drew the clerk aside. "Never," he snarled, "never, never, never say we're out of anything; say we've got it on order and it's coming. Now, what was it she wanted anyway?"

The clerk replied, "Rain."

It would be hard to be that clerk and not smile after watching the manager make a fool of himself by speaking before he knew what he was talking about! Sadly, the manager's problem wasn't just a matter of speaking out of turn; he was willing to say anything in an effort to make his store look good and in hopes of maximizing sales. He didn't want the woman going elsewhere to buy whatever he thought she wanted, so he was willing to lie--and even order his clerk to lie--to try to keep the woman's business. In this case, however, his lying made him look like a fool, at the very least. More significantly, he has proven himself to be lacking in integrity. Anyone who is willing to say anything to try to look good is not to be trusted. Their compliments are hollow and their explanations are not to be believed.

Let us consider Proverbs 12:17-22 at this time, which has much to say about lying:

"He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy. No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight."

Friends, we all are tempted to lie at times for various reasons, but don't give in to it! God knows when we stretch the truth or utter lies we think are small and harmless. He knows when we manipulate words to make ourselves shine in the best light possible. Remember, lying lips are an abomination before Almighty God! Such is repulsive to the One who sees all! If we deal truthfully at home, at work, and in all other situations, God will delight in us. What more could we really desire?