9 Ten Commandments

Welcome back, and happy Sunday. We've made it to number nine of the Ten Commandments. It's found in Exodus 20:16: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Many of us were taught as children the phrase, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Is that true? Can't words really hurt us? Can't a false witness hurt us? Absolutely.

A movie was made about a man from Atlanta that was hurt by words and false witness. While working as a security guard for the Olympics, he discovered a backpack with a pipe bomb in it. It was 1996. It was at Centennial Olympic Park. He alerted the police to what he had found, and he helped evacuate the area.

He saved many lives that day and probably many injuries. He was a hero. His name was Richard Jewell. A few days after the incident, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper revealed that Richard Jewell was a suspect.

He was hounded. His name was drugged through the mud. He was found completely innocent, but the media ruined him. Talk shows turned him into a joke and a villain. Words and false witness hurt Richard Jewell.

I had a friend that people loved to talk about in the small town that we lived in. All sorts of rumors were floating around. The things that were said were so hard for me to believe, I would not repeat them. Rumors die without willing repeaters. If we repeat the wrong thing, we are bearing false witness.

A little boy once confused his Bible verses. He mixed Proverbs 12:22 and Psalm 46:1. He came up with this: "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, and a very present help in time of trouble." That, sadly, is our world now.

As a society, we are lied to all too often. The media is quick to run on rumor, innuendo, and false testimony. Oh, it's not a new problem. Satan's lies in the Garden of Eden changed everything.

Jesus said this in John 8:44 about the devil. Jesus said, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." When we lie, when we bear false witness, we align ourselves with Satan. This is why we are told not to bear false witness. God is not pleased when we lie.

We find some pretty harsh words in Proverbs chapter 6. It says, "Their sixth thing the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haunty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family." Of the seven, two are directly related to the ninth commandment: a lying tongue and a lying witness who testifies falsely. Our world suffers because of lying and false witnesses.

An extra interesting way that we can bear false witness is by building someone up falsely, not tearing them down. Many employers are fooled with resumes of people who have references from bosses that lie just to get rid of a bad employee. Over the years, I've been asked to write letters of recommendation for people looking for jobs or scholarships or some kind of reward. I always try and be positive, but I will not bear false witness by recommending someone for something that they just don't deserve.

Each week we've turned these commands to the positive. Today we can turn this ninth, ninth commandment to "tell the truth." Use your words for good. Words are so powerful. With them we make friends, or we make enemies; we build up, or we tear down.

Have you ever wanted to take words back? It's likely you have. We know that once they come out of our mouth, there's no going back. In 1994, about this time of year, I had back surgery. My wife was by my side the whole way, and she was an angel in all that she did.

I remember being in the hospital bed there in Tupelo, Mississippi, and I said to her out of gratefulness, "Honey, you can have anything you want." Those are the words I said: "Honey, you can have anything you want." Now, I was thinking it would mean a nice outfit or dinner somewhere. Now, she was thinking real estate and jewelry and automobiles. We have to be careful with our words.

What a different world this would be if everyone used their words for good. Proverbs 25:11 is a beautiful verse. It paints a beautiful picture. It says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."

Our words can be like that. Our words should be like that. Our world, words will only be like that if we change our thinking, because our words proceed from our thoughts, don't they?

Let's apply this. As a husband, I can decide that I will only speak positive to my wife, only build up, never tell down, tear down. If I always do that, my marriage will be blessed. As a father, I must decide to always speak truth and love to my children. If I do that, they'll be blessed.

Over the years, I've heard of young children confess to their schoolteachers that they were dumb. One teacher asked, "How do you know you're dumb?" And the student responded, "My mommy told me." That parent has done great charm, harm to that child.

God always tells us the truth. He will not lie to us. From Genesis to Revelation, we are told that God loves us. We are told that God will provide. We are told that God has plans for us.

We are told that at times it will not be easy and that there will be tribulation. We're told that the reward will be great. We are told that we are forgiven. These Ten Commandments were given to us to help our lives. May God bless you as you help the lives around others with your true, kind words.

Let's pray together. Lord, help us to guard our lips, our thoughts that produce speech. Help our attitudes to reflect, to reflect love. Help us to speak the truth, that our words would be beautiful like apples of gold on settings of silver. Father, help us today to seek to lift someone up and to make a positive impact in their lives. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.