A lady wrote to “Dear Abby” and said she frequently is asked whether she lives alone…for example, from a plumber or other person having reason to come into her home. She asked whether it’s ok to lie to them, since they might have thoughts of harming her in their minds.

Abby said to tell them something like, “No I have a (brother or some other person) who lives with me.”

There are a number of liars recorded in the Bible; When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and were multiplying, their midwives were told to kill the boy babies. But they said, “the women have their babies so quickly, we don’t get there in time.”

Moses, in trying to get Pharaoh to let them go, told him they wanted to go three days into the desert to make sacrifices, although they had no intention of coming back.

When a woman hid Joshua’s spies and told searchers that they had gone and she didn’t know where, their lives were spared and she was later rewarded by Joshua.

And perhaps the biggest lie of all was when Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, plotted so the younger of twin sons, Jacob, got the blessing instead of Esau through lying and trickery. And in this case, this was even in God’s plan for Jacob!

So…do circumstances allow us to tell lies…or at least “little white lies?” Here’s my answer. And remember, this is my personal thinking; it’s not explained in the Bible, because God’s plans will happen by whatever means it takes. But also remember that in Revelation 21:8, the Bible says, “…all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.”

I think the lady would be truthful if she said, “No I’m not alone…a man friend is with me.” Or “No, I’m not alone;why do you ask?“ She doesn’t have to explain that the friend is Jesus Christ, who is always with each of us. He’s even at the elbow of the worst sinner, waiting for him to ask Christ into his life.

But no matter…the Bible is clear that God hates liars, and so we should try not to even discolor the truth. There are things better not said, but we should not say things that are not true. Ask God to not let you get into a position where the truth can be dangerous to you. Because a lie can be even worse.