The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningsay it is nought, it is nought, and when he is gone, to boast, is not short of a sin(Proverbs 20.14), or to say that he will give no more, though he intends to do so.Words are precious commodities, and should not be exposed at such risks. What isbeyond yea and nay, and reaches to excess, comes of evil, and evil comes of it(Matthew 5.37; James 5.12). If you tell untruths and lies, it is as bad as stealing;'ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another' (Leviticus 19.11).He who lies virtually steals; and the Apostle joins liars and stealers and perjuredpersons together, and tells us that the law is against them all, and that they arecontrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1.10). If man's law were as God's, therewould be a recovery and restitution for what is gained by lying, as well as for whatis stolen (Leviticus 6.1-5). Before you can come to God with your offering, youought to restore that which is gained by fraud as well as that which is gained byforce.Indeed, to lie is a thing inconsistent with being a child of God. Without, among thedogs, are liars, and they shall, unless they repent, have their part in the lake whichburneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21.8;22.15). 'The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro ofthem that seek death' (Proverbs 21.6). He who is not delivered from the way oflying on earth will never be delivered from lying in Hell. Surely, God says of hispeople, they are children that will not lie (Isaiah 63.8); that is, to be sure, they willnot make a trade of it nor live in or by lying. And it is added, 'so he was theirSaviour', as if God would not save a cheating hypocrite and a lying professor. Norwill he without repentance, for 'lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they thatdeal truly are his delight' (Proverbs 12.22). Which would you rather be, abhorred ordelighted in by God? Think of this in your warehouses and shops, or when you goout to buy and sell, that you may do everything in truth. Methinks I hear yourwives and children begging you, Oh! do not lie to be rich; do not risk going to Hellto leave me riches! Thus I deal plainly and truly with you, that you may do so withall men, and I hope that you will not take it amiss that I endeavour to do you good.If you do, I say with the Apostle, Forgive me this wrong.(b) Take heed of putting men off and paying them with false and unlawful money.Just as you should not buy stolen and unlawful goods, so you should not payunlawful money, that which you would not take, and know that others will notreceive, if it is discerned. The children of Abraham should be like him, who, whenhe had bought, weighed or told out his silver, current money with the merchant(Genesis 23.16). And this sin of paying brass and false money is so much theworse because it usually falls into the hands of the poor, who can least discern, andwho suffer most by receiving it. Do as you would be done to, and do not pay thatwhich is not payment, but an abuse and a wrong.(c) Do not use false weights or measures, or keep your books falsely. Take heed ofwriting down more than was delivered or bargained for, or writing greater pricesthan were agreed upon. As to false weights and measures, they are utterlyforbidden (Leviticus 19.35,36; Deuteronomy 25.13-16). You are to have a standardmeasure, and not to think it enough to have one only when the King's officer calls,but throughout the year; otherwise you, as well as your weights and measures, arean abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 20.10). There is a good saying, and I wish it146