A platitude is a warm fuzzy.
Think of funerals. It’s depressing, we know, but let’s think of the eulogy. We want to say nice things about the deceased, whether she was nice in life or not. It feels disrespectful to criticize someone who’s already dead.
Yet what if she really was a rotten person? What then? Is the criticism okay then?
Psalm 101:7 says we shouldn’t have to bury a rotten person. We should have already kicked him out.
“No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 lists the things that should motivate us to give people the boot.
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
Proverbs 20:17 demands that we look beneath the surface. Things may not be as they seem.
“Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.”
Proverbs 26:24-26 says that if we see one form of deceit, there are likely to be six more. We mustn’t tolerate any of it.
“Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
Psalm 120:2 assures us we have a choice. We can ask for help from God, and he will be our champion.
“Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”
Romans 16:18 reveals the reason for God’s demand to kick out the rotten person. We don’t lift her up. She pulls us down.
“For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
Psalm 36:3 cautions us that some people are beyond our sphere of influence. They are going to do what they’re going to do.
“The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.”
Psalm 43:1 puts us on notice that the rotten person cannot be trusted. We are either with him or against him.
“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!”
Proverbs 19:9 is our proof that the platitudes will be ripped away. The truth of who we are will one day be exposed.
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.”
When people talk about us, let’s let them share good things, not to be polite, but because we’ve followed Jesus, and it’s the truth.
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Code: FGO.L.11.16e.vp.esv