MORAL STORIES

THE LIAR LOSES HIS LIFE

A boy learned swimming. He became an expert in the art and was very proud of his skill. He used to swim across a flowing river everyday. One day, while swimming, he saw a boat full of passengers moving near him. He pretended to be sinking and cried aloud, "Help me, I'm sinking!" Some well-dressed persons jumped into the water and swam with all their might to save him. When they reached him, he laughed aloud and said, "I have teased you, I am an expert in swimming!" He quickly swam away from them. They cursed him and returned to the boat angrily in drenched dress.

A week later, the river was in flood. The over-confident boy, as usual, was swimming across the river. He was caught in a whirlpool in the river and could not escape. He cried aloud for help. A boat was near, but as every one had heard about his earlier deceit, no one cared about him. They thought that he was playing a trick again and so went away. Soon he was sucked into the whirlpool and killed. His dead body floated on the water the next day.

A true Christian should not tell a lie even if telling the truth may cause loss, suffering or pain. We should not tell a lie even if telling the lie may give us money, power or pleasure. St. Paul advises, "No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ" {Ephesians 4: 25}. Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" {John 8: 32}.

By Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

This is Story No. 39 in this site. Please click ‘Older Post’ at the bottom of this page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Post' at the bottom of this page to read newer stories in this site. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.