Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave

Imagine the damage I would cause to my marriage if my wife found out that I was spending money differently than what I had told her. 

What would the likely outcome be in my business relationships when my clients find out that I ‘misspoke’ about the quality or capabilities of our product or service?

It doesn’t matter whether they are big or small or whether our lies are discovered or not, lies damage relationships. They put up barriers, they disappoint, break trust and they separate us from one another. 

After lying to someone, we become guarded in our conversations and, either consciously or unconsciously, we avoid being near the person we deceived? 

The emotional and physical separation caused by lies begins with a single lie and often by a lie that seems harmless. But a single ‘harmless’ lie can quickly become the first strand of a web of lies. The poet Sir Walter Scott warns us of the snare of a first lie in his poem Marmion where he says, 

         Oh, what a tangled web we weave when at first we start to deceive.

Think of the enormous stress we impose on ourselves when we craft these successive lies and add layer upon layer to the web. With each layer we increase the barrier that separate us from one another. 

Satan’s objective is to destroy our relationships. Both with one another and ultimately with God. With relationships weakened and destroyed, we become isolated, lonely and vulnerable to the temptations that destroy, not only our relationships, but our very souls.

Conversely, Jesus and His amazing Commandments show us how to establish a strong foundation upon which we can build healthy, joy-filled and lasting relationships. Jesus desires that we experience the joy of family and friends celebrating with us in good times. And, He desires that we experience the love of family and friends as they surround us in difficult times.

Implied in the 8thCommandment, “You shall not bare false witness”, Jesus offers us truth. Truth is not something abstract or idealistic. Truth is real. Truth protects against the lies, truth is sacred and holy. How do we know it is sacred and holy? Because Jesus tells us so in John 14:6 when He says, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus, who is sacred and holy, is truth and life.

As we reflect this week on Jesus’ passion and death, we are reminded of how committed He is to helping us remove the web of deception and help us live in the truth of His Commandments. Through His sacrifice and resurrection, He encourages us to forgive others who have damaged our friendships with a lie and to recommit ourselves to the sacred gift of truth.

How are your relationships doing? 

To dive deeper in your knowledge of learning and living the 10 Commandments on a daily basis in order to experience true joy and freedom, visit our 10 Commandments Page that corresponds to each of the 10 Commandments.