The masks they wear harbor hurt for us and ruin for themselves

By Dean Collins

A couple of weeks ago you may have had several visitors knock on your door. On any other day, you likely would have called the police. Those who approached your house were in various disguises that might have been startling except that your guests were short of stature and simply wanted the usual treats that come at Halloween!

Proverbs 26:24 says, “Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart.” Certainly, the neighborhood trick-or-treaters bore no real deceit with their costumes. They simply followed the annual tradition. Maybe you give sweets to those who knock on your door every day but I suspect not. The disguise or costume of the children warms hearts and leads to a generous gift of candy.

The abominations of deceit

Unfortunately, the person described in Proverbs 26:24-27 has a different agenda. Maybe they act and speak as if they like you and support your work, yet their heart is filled with deceit. This deceit masks hatred and, according to this proverb, may include many other abominations, seven of them, in fact.

We are not told what are the seven abominations from the one who says nice things to us and spreads lies and hatred behind our backs. Maybe we could think about another Proverb in 6:16-19. Some of the seven abominations seen there seem relevant: pride, lying tongue, false witness, one who sows discord, and the one who makes wicked plans. Certainly, a gossip or hypocrite isn’t guilty of the one abomination listed in the text: hands that shed innocent blood. I suspect that when a gossip or hypocrite speaks, they do not intend to murder, but the hardness they bring with their deceit can kill one’s spirit, soul, and character.

Complete evil

Another possibility is the seven abominations in Proverbs 26 are referencing another biblical concept. The number seven is sometimes referred to as a perfect number. The word perfect in Scripture often describes completion. Maybe the writer of Proverbs is saying that when we act hypocritical and spread falsehood, the result may lead to a complete heart of evil.

There is certainly a warning for us in this passage. Don’t be the person who spreads lies and deceit because it not only wounds another but can destroy your own heart.

Verse 27 seems connected and may give us another application. Proverbs may well be suggesting that we leave the gossip and liar alone because the pit they are digging with their lies may very well be the pit they fall into. And the stone they begin to roll might just roll back and crush them.

Lord, forgive us for the times we have inadvertently and sometimes deliberately spread gossip or shared information that was not ours to share. Help us forgive the ones who have at times spread gossip and information about us as well. We pray you would give us wisdom when we hear information, to know what is truth and what talk contains lies. Give us discernment in our communication with others and help us always to speak truth in love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭24‬-‭27; 6:16-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Rach Teo on Unsplash
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Dean Collins

Pastor, campus minister, counselor, corporate employee, Fortune 500 consultant, college president—Dean brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to his daily walk with God’s Word. 

In 1979 he founded Auburn Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational campus ministry that still thrives today. In 1989 he founded and became executive director for New Directions Counseling Center, a service that grew to include several locations and counselors. In 1996 he became vice president of human resources for the CheckFree Corporation (3,000 employees) till founding DC Consulting in 1999. He continues part-time service with that company, offering executive leadership coaching, organizational effectiveness advice, and help with optimizing business relationships.

His latest pursuit, president of Point University since 2006 (interim president 2006-2009), has seen the college grow in enrollment, curriculum, physical campus, and athletic offerings. He led the school’s 2012 name change and relocation from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Georgia, to Point University in West Point, Georgia. Meanwhile, he serves as board member or active volunteer with several nonprofits addressing issues ranging from global immunization to local government and education. 

He lives in Lanett, Alabama, with his wife, Penny. He has four children (two married) and five grandchildren. He plays the guitar, likes to cook, and enjoys getting outdoors, often on a nearby golf course. 

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