Does The Truth Hurt You?

Isaiah 30:8-11

Message No. 0583 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

In my Economics class (long time ago, of course), we were taught the concept of rationality. In this concept, it is assumed that all human beings behave rationally. For example, all human beings are said to want to pay less for goods and services, while holding the qualities of those items constant. Based on this, human beings would look for alternative options in order to arrive at the option that allows them to pay as low as possible for the goods and services they consume. Now, this theory ignores the fact that some people would avoid goods and services that deliver the same qualities to them as the ones they pay higher for, but they are happy that they are not shopping in the same markets as the ordinary people in the society.

Even the government admits that rationality exists, and they make some room for it. For instance, the government understands that citizens would want to pay as little tax as possible, so they make a distinction between tax avoidance and tax evasion. Whereas tax avoidance is legal and permitted (albeit grudgingly), tax evasion is an offence under the law.

Just as the concept described above assumes that everyone is an economic person, we also generally assume that everyone prefers to hear the truth, than to be lied to. Since lies lead people astray, sometimes dangerously, we all should want to hear the truth, shouldn’t we? Well, not so fast. Wouldn’t you be surprised to know that there are people who choose to be lied to, rather than to be told the truth? In Isaiah 30:8-11, the Bible describes the state of the nation of Israel at some point in their history:

Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness. For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!”

“Wonders shall never end” is a phrase used to describe the occurrence of amazingly stupid things. These are things so unbelievable that they become wonders. How does someone deliberately request or demand to be lied to! But that’s what Israel did, by asking their prophets to prophesy lies to them. And, before we crucify them for growing up on the wrong side of the planet, how about us? Don’t we sometimes prefer to be told lies? Aren’t we looking for messages that would suite us rather than tell us the truth? When our family members tell us the truth, don’t we rather look for friends who would agree with our positions? When our pastors tell us the truth, don’t we look for Bible chapters and verses that would agree with us to counter their counsels?

When Rehoboam, Solomon’s son took over as king after his father’s death, the people came to him to ask that he lessen their burden because his father put a heavy yoke on them. The elders advised him how to address the matter and how to speak to the people. After their counsel, Rehoboam called his agemates, who did not know more than him, and asked them the same question. With youthful exuberance and lack of experience, his mates told him what to do and he took their advice over what the elders said. The result was catastrophic: he lost 10 tribes of Israel to a man who did more evil in the sight of God than any king before him. Rehoboam lost his kingdom because he preferred lies to the truth.

The truth may be bitter, but shouldn’t we always listen to it and adjust our ways if we want to see good results? We may feel better when we are told sweet things, but where does that take us? What advantage do we gain from sweet and lies? As we grow up, we also should be growing in knowledge and experience. We should put our youthful behavior behind us and face reality. Lies and soothing statements may make us happy temporarily, but in the end, they bite like serpents. As God’s children, only a commitment to the Truth would take us to our desired destinations. May our God surround us with family members and friends who would never deliberately mislead us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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