THINK TOGETHER.
Have you ever lied in order to get something you really wanted?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 21:6. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
Often when we want something very badly we will do bad things to get it, like lying. Have you ever lied in order to get a better grade in school? Or lied in order to keep something that was actually someone else’s? Or maybe you’ve lied so that you could keep a position or a spot in line (I was here first).
It’s easy for lying to become a very bad habit. Lying about little things when you are little turns into lying about bigger things as you get older. Soon lying just becomes part of what you do in order to get what you want. Some people lie at work, and they lie to their families, all so that they can get their own way.
There’s a story in the Bible of a man named Achan who stole a treasure, hid it in his tent, and then lied about it to everyone. When Achan finally got caught the leader of Israel had him killed. Literally his lie became a snare of death. Yikes.
In the New Testament there is a story about a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who told lies in order to get rich. He overcharged people on their taxes (a form of lying) in order to make more money (treasure). The result? Zacchaeus didn’t die, but he had no friends, he had no forgiveness, and he had no faith. He was headed toward spiritual death. But then he met Jesus! Do you remember the story? That’s right! Jesus forgave Zacchaeus and became his friend. Zacchaeus returned the stolen money and then some. Why? Because he knew that trusting Jesus lasts forever, but loving earthly treasures and telling lies is a fleeting vapor. With Jesus we have treasure in Heaven, not earth, so there’s no more need to lie ever again.
Because of Jesus we have treasure in Heaven waiting for us.
With Jesus we never have to lie to get treasures on Earth.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Read the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-10. What do we learn about God’s forgiveness from this story?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, I want you to be my greatest treasure. You are not a vapor, you’re forever. I don’t have to lie to get you, just believe. Amen.
TLICfamily 