The Destructive Force Of Lying Lips

A Basket of Flowers, by Christoph Von Schmid, is an intriguing children’s book that captivated my attention this week. Set in medieval England, it relates the story of a young girl, Juliette, who is the proud and privileged servant to a wealthy countess of a magnificent castle. But Juliette is intensely jealous of a poor, pious peasant girl, Mary, whose growing friendship with the countess she resents and is determined to bring to an end.

From the moment the countess gives Mary a pretty dress of her own, Juliette sets out to bring about Mary’s downfall and blacken her name and character. In her passion to rid the castle of this intruder whom Juliette imagines will usurp her position, she casts a trail of vicious lies about Mary that none can deny. Mary is charged with a crime she never committed, imprisoned in the bleakest of dungeons whilst her case is awaiting trial, and then banished from her home and kingdom forever.

Juliette is delirious with happiness that her conniving plan has succeeded and all threat of her imaginary archenemy supplanting her rightful position in the castle has been removed.

However, the story does not end there. An unexpected turn of events reveals the truth, landing the convicted and shameful Juliette in prison and receiving the same harsh punishment that Mary had previously. The little girl Mary is restored to the favor of the countess, her family and indeed the entire community.

Proverbs 26:27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

It was a pretty dress given to Mary that make Juliette angry and envious. In her passion, hardly knowing what she was about, she began to spin a lying tale to convict Mary. But one lie led to another so that eventually she had dug a pit that was so deep, when she was found out, she could not get out. Troublemakers invariably make trouble for themselves. In their folly aimed at destroying others, they exhibit a self-destructive nature that inevitably results in them reaping what they have sown (Galatians 6:7).

Proverbs 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Juliette may have had a pleasing veneer, but her outward attractiveness concealed a nature that was the very opposite. We would do well to avoid the person who harbors hatred in their heart. Their true intentions will finally be exposed, because in all of life and our relationships with others, the truth of what we keep hidden away in our hearts will finally rise to the surface. Their mannerisms, attitudes and ultimately their words, will ‘find them out.’

Perhaps we may be exposed to the ugliness of a Juliette in our lives right now. Someone who cannot be trusted. Whose words are smooth and flattering, but underneath they have a very different agenda.

Proverbs 27:12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

The God-fearing man and woman seeks the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and trusts that He will lead us away from those who seek to take advantage of us for their own gain. Those who are not led by the LORD forge ahead, putting their trust in toxic relationships that will bring about their own downfall.

Together let’s use the wisdom we have been given by God. Let’s seek His counsel and determine to obey His leading in regard to whom we should and should not form friendships with. And let’s ensure that the words that we speak are truthful, that our heart is sincere and that we only desire the best for others, even at our own expense.

‘Heavenly Father, please lead me away from those who intentions are evil and false. Help me to grow in wisdom, to form friendships that are genuine and mutually edifying. Please also create in me a sincere heart and deliver me from self exaltation, lying, deceit and malevolence. May I grow more and more like Jesus under the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.’