Scientists have described “love” as the combination of two other emotions: joy and trust.

This definition makes sense; it would be hard to love someone that never brought you joy. And nearly impossible to love someone you didn’t trust.

When a person lies, it damages their relationship with the one they’re lying to. If you’ve ever been lied to, you probably know how difficult it can be to trust that person again.

Lying to yourself is also dangerous because it robs you of personal growth. If you’re always justifying the bad things you do, then you’ll never be able to recognize and work on them.

Maybe that’s why God hates lying.

He hates it so much that He included it in the Ten Commandments, saying: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).

Wise King Solomon captured God’s attitude toward liars in Proverbs 12:22.

God knew the effect lying had on people and relationships long before anyone started studying it.

He created us, and can be trusted in all things. So instead of finding out the hard way, why not determine to take the Lord at His word? He knows what He’s talking about.