Do Not Accuse Falsely
Let’s look at the next verse in Proverbs 3. This is verse 30, which says “Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.”
William MacDonald’s commentary on this verse says this: “There is already enough strife in the world without needlessly going around to stir up more!” That’s well said. Be careful of falsely accusing somebody – it is really an awful sin that does much damage.
The Bible is full of verses that command us not to make false accusations. Leviticus 19:16 says “Do not go about spreading slander among your people.” And of course the Psalms are full of occasions where David was falsely accused – in Psalm 41 he writes “My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?” When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.” (Psalm 41:5–6 NIV)
Speak with Integrity
So we know that God is not pleased when we speak falsely of others. And this goes much further than just in the courtroom or laying an official complaint. Do you exaggerate people’s bad qualities? Do you talk badly about people behind their backs, making things out to be worse than they are?
I can think about moments in my life where, to my shame, I have made claims about somebody that were a little exaggerated. Or a little one-sided perhaps, when I knew there was another angle to the story.
Forgive me Lord, I have prayed on many occasions, for this subtle dishonesty.
Let your words be words of the utmost integrity friends, and always look for the best in people. Don’t exaggerate things so that you can knock others. Don’t assume you know the full story. Be gracious. Be kind. Look for the good.
Truth and Justice
But on the other hand, way back in Exodus 23 we read “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness” (v1). So this goes both ways – don’t say somebody is guilty of something they aren’t, but also don’t say somebody is innocent when they’re guilty. Don’t accuse falsely but don’t acquit falsely either – it is right and just for people who have committed evil to pay the price for that.
Consider your words carefully, and then remember one last thing here. Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” (Matthew 5:11). So don’t be surprised when people do this to you, as a follower of Jesus. And don’t retaliate with evil. Remember, they accused Him falsely, and He went on to the cross because fighting back was not His mission. Fighting back is not our mission either. Standing up for ourselves, and spreading the love and grace of Jesus is our mission.
We can only do that if we speak words of truth and justice, not words that are untrue.
