In the fallen world that we’re living in, it seems so easy to betray someone.  Without giving it a second thought, people lie, betray, deceive, and cheat on an unsuspecting soul.  Ah, but don’t think that you’ve “gotten one over” on someone because although this trusting and loving soul believed in you and didn’t see this coming, God knows and sees all.

You may think that you were slick and have gotten by this time, or you may even have the “What they don’t know won’t hurt them” type of mentality.  What I’d like you to realize is that you’re only hurting yourself for when the truth finally comes out (and believe me, it will … truth always prevails) you will have lost all of the faith and trust that this person once put into you. Not only that, but you will lose the respect they had for you as well.

Will you be able to hold your head up high then?  Will you be able to look yourself in the mirror every morning with the knowledge that you betrayed the one person that had such faith and trust in you? Will you be able to live with yourself knowing that you betrayed someone that believed in you?

This person that has been so faithful and loyal to you did not deserve to be deceived, and even the act of omission is being deceitful.  When you purposefully withhold information and are not up front with that person, you are betraying and being deceitful.

How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of this?

I’ve been mocked throughout life for being “too gullible.”  Let’s pause for a moment and realize what this very word means:

Gullible – Merriam-Webster Online, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Gullible – easily fooled or cheated; especially : quick to believe something that is not true. Full Definition of GULLIBLE. : easily duped or cheated

So I’m the gullible one.  I’m the one you mock and laugh at when you have purposely set out to fool me or cheat me?   Why is this viewed as a character flaw of mine, yet you’re the one smiling because you’ve easily deceived me? You’ve lied to me and you’re boasting of the fact that you’ve betrayed my trust in you? Honestly tell me, is this something to be proud of?  In my book, it’s not.  Something that I highly respect is when a person is honest with me.   When you show that you’re trustworthy, loyal, honest, and true – that is when you can brag and smile proudly – when you show me that you’re a man or woman of integrity and of good character.

Don’t laugh at me for being “gullible” or pity me for being so naive.  I don’t deserve being laughed at, mocked, or pitied for being an honest person expecting to interact with other honest people in this world.

Let’s look at the word naive for a moment, shall we:

Naive – Merriam-Webster Online, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

naive – having or showing a lack of experience or knowledge : innocent or simple

I don’t lack experience or knowledge.  I’ve been around the block quite a few times and endured a lot of heartache and pain in my lifetime.  I’ve been betrayed more times than I care to remember, yet I still choose to see the good in people.   I am not lacking anything … I’m simply choosing to love and believe that there is good in every one that I meet.  Some will abuse it.  Some will try to use it to their advantage.  The innocent or simple girl that is so easily deceived.  Oh yes, that’s something to be proud of – that I am an honest person and expect honesty in return.  It’s not a flaw in my character that I’m so trusting.

The next time you think of betraying someone, stop and ask yourself how you would feel if someone did this to you.  Consider the hurt you’d feel if you heard someone talking about you behind your back when you trusted with all of your heart to find that the person simply wasn’t trustworthy after all.

Think before you speak, before you act, and before you betray another innocent and unsuspecting soul.   Even if they don’t ever realize what you’ve done, God sees all.

Take action on this Tuesday and right a wrong!  If you have wronged someone in ANY of the above ways mentioned above, make it right today.  Fall on your knees and beg forgiveness from God for betraying a friend, family member or loved one, and then go to that person and beg forgiveness as well.  Confess what you’ve done and vow never to knowingly and willingly lie, deceive, betray or cheat them or another person again.   Be a person of good character.  Be a respectable person of integrity.  Have good morals and values about you.  Be loyal.  Be true!