A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies (Proverbs 14:5).

If a person tells a lie, does that make him a "liar?"  Doesn't it seem a bit extreme to make such sweeping judgments about someone's character as a result of a single action?  Is Proverbs 14:5 meant to be a hyperbole -- a truthful witness NEVER deceiving and a false witness POURING OUT lies?  It seems a bit unrealistic, doesn't it?  Still, this point is so frequently reiterated throughout the Proverbs (see Proverbs 6:19, Proverbs 12:17, Proverbs 14:5, Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 19:9, Proverbs 19:28, and Proverbs 21:28) that I'm having a hard time dismissing it completely...

Now, I like to think of myself as a generally-truthful person.  I try to avoid outright lies as much as possible.  But the fact of the matter is that I sometimes omit strategic pieces of information, veil the truth with vague explanations and subtle misdirection, and intentionally perpetuate misunderstandings.  I wouldn't think that these instances of less-than-full-truth characterize me, all-together... But then again, how can anyone else know that for sure?  If the code of honesty is something that I control in my own head, in my own conscience, then how is my truthfulness actually calibrated?  It can't be!  We only know the truth when it's controlled by something outside of ourselves.  The only truth we can really trust is God's honest truth.  And unless I submit myself to God's honest truth, I might as well be pouring out lies.

I don't know.  I still don't have all this sorted out for myself.  Still, I feel challenged in this area of honesty.  I feel challenged to build more transparency into my life.  I feel challenged to live in the light of God's honest truth, instead of my clever spin on circumstances.  I feel challenged to up my standard from "Do not lie" to "Do not deceive."  And that's God's honest truth.