Making Right Decisions

Making Right Decisions – Ephesians 4:25

In the last section of this chapter Paul is going to go into even more detail on how to apply these passages in some very practical ways. He is going to instruct us to put off our vices and put on our virtues. We’ll see that we are to:
• Put off falsehood and put on truth
• Put off anger and put on reconciliation
• Put off laziness and put on hard work
• Put off words that tear down and put on words that build up
• Put off bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice and put on kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

I know you’re all excited to look at falsehood? Have you ever heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?” It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom.
For example:
· Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
· Michael, 14, said, “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”
· Michael, also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”
· Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One wonders how he discovered that bit of wisdom.
· Kyoyo, age 9, said, “Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”

Some humorous real truths…This week, we’re going to deal with only one verse. It’s not that this verse is hard to understand. However, it is one of the most difficult verses for us to apply within the body of Christ.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)

The word “falsehood” comes from the Greek word from which we get our English prefix “pseudo” which we use to describe something that appears to be genuine, but is not.  So when Paul writes that we are to put off falsehood that word covers a broad variety of things that appear to be genuine, but are not. It goes far beyond just lying, which is how the word is translated in the KJV and NIV.

Most of us don’t have problems identifying outright lies. But most falsehood is much more subtle than that. Consider these top ten lies that are a little more subtle:
1. The check is in the mail.
2. I’ll start my diet tomorrow.
3. We service what we sell.
4. Give me your number and the doctor will call you right back.
5. Your luggage isn’t lost, it’s only misplaced.
6. Leave your resume and we’ll keep it on file.
7. I just need five minutes of your time.
8. Your table will be ready in a few minutes.
9. Open wide, it won’t hurt a bit.
10. I’m from the government and I’m here to help you. If the IRS comes to you and says that?

We laugh a little uneasily at many of those because most of us have either used some of those or we’ve had someone else use them on us. But perhaps an even more insidious falsehood occurs when we actually attempt to use true facts to deceive others, truths revealed to deceive. Like a person using true facts to make a gain financial gain over you; or to control you in some way. There are many ways we can use true facts that are actually falsehoods. This is what Paul is talking about in this verse...more tomorrow. You are loved!