One of the reasons why some people make a practice of lying is a desire to score undue advantage over others. We stated this much yesterday, stressing that the outcome in the long run will be shame and regret. Some others take to lying for a different reason altogether. Take Cain for example. He killed his brother when he found out that God preferred the offering of Abel to his own. By the way, there must be blessing from offering otherwise having his offering rejected could not have provoked such a fierce jealousy and anger. Anyway, when God came asking him for his brother he lied! ‘Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”’ (Genesis 4:9, NKJV).

Cain lied in this instance in order to cover his track and avoid responsibility. Lying is a medicine many people apply to treat a wrongdoing; but it is a very poor medicine indeed. It is the kind of medicine that is worse than the disease they hope to cure.

Cain lied in this instance in order to cover his track and avoid responsibility. Lying is a medicine many people apply to treat a wrongdoing; but it is a very poor medicine indeed. It is the kind of medicine that is worse than the disease they hope to cure. One problem with this is that once you tell a lie, you may have to keep telling other lies to keep you from being discovered. By its very nature, every lie has a contradiction within it; and before long, it will expose itself. It is not in vain that the Scripture says, “…be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23 KJV). There is something ironic in Cain’s response to God, and we close on that note. He dismissed God’s enquiry by asking if he was his brother’s keeper. That’s exactly what God wants us to be – our brother’s keeper. Those who are not keeping their brothers are probably killing them!