Once there is a total commitment to being truthful, the foundation becomes so strong that it can even weather the powerful storms of opposing opinions. Thus opening the possibility for true and enduring peace.
With all of the technological developments and changes, there remain certain ideas and truths that seem to be timeless. As the saying goes, "Some things in life never change..."
I recently came across an ancient teaching that seems to confirm this proverb. It was penned over 700 years ago by the renowned Talmudic sage, Rabeinu Yonah. One could have easily believed that it was written today.
The subject matter is a detailed description of seven types of deceivers. As a preface; it is said in the teachings of Torah that: "Knowing one's disease is half of the cure." Indeed, the first step to inner healing is when we become aware of our defects. So the following summary of the seven types of deceivers are what Rabeinu Yonah identified.
If you find yourself counted among one or more of these categories, then instead of feeling shame or guilt, consider this awareness as an opportunity for a healing.
The Seven types of deceivers:
- People who are outright liars, cheaters, who willingly testify falsely and cause damage to others through blatant lies.
- Lies that do not have an immediate damage to one's fellow but which are calculated to eventually take advantage of another. Like those who manipulate others to gain their trust so they will let their guard down making it easy to take advantage of them.
- People who go to great lengths to befriend others all for the purpose of using the "friendship" to their own personal advantage, even if the damage is indirect. For example, when a person knows that their friend has their eyes on a certain property and jumps ahead to purchase it, causing the "friend" to have to pay them off to release their interest.
- One who retells a story, knowingly adding untruths to the real story even though there is no tangible "loss" or "damages" involved.
- When a person tells someone about a favor that they are going to do for them, when in truth they have no plan in following through... To what can this be compared to a time when the sky is filled with rain clouds but it never rains. Indeed this is alluded to in Proverbs (25:14). "Clouds and wind, but no rain--so is a man who boasts with a false gift."
- When a person boasts to his friend about a favor that he did for him when in truth it never happened. In addition to this being a lie, it is also termed "stealing someone's knowledge", which is the Hebrew way of saying "misleading". The same also applies to a person who gives someone the impression that they "went out of their way" to accommodate them when in truth there was no such consideration.
- One that misrepresents themselves in their credentials, or when a person boasts of good deeds that they never did. This is what is meant in Proverbs (17:7), "Proud words do not befit a vile person, surely not lying speech a generous one." In this category are also those who remain quiet when they are given credit for something they have not done. For so careful must one be in this behavior that a person of truth should immediately correct a compliment that is false.
Mark Twain once said, "A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar." Perhaps these words seem a bit harsh, but those who embrace being truthful, absolutely, are more likely to be the forebearers of true peace.
For once there is a total commitment to being truthful, the foundation becomes so strong that it can even weather the powerful storms of opposing opinions. Thus opening the possibility for true and enduring peace.