It takes a lot of effort and not a little courage to tell the truth all the time.  Sometimes we are tempted to lie to avoid punishment (such as when the policeman asks us if we know how fast we were driving).  Or we might think telling a small lie might save someone’s feelings or keep them from being upset with us.  And many of us have been known to lie about our weight and age from time to time.  But lying under these circumstances, while it seems harmless, damages our creditability and if we do it enough then people begin to wonder if we are telling the truth about more important things.  After all, how can we “preach the truth in love” if we are not known to be truthful, loving people?