Bible and Truthfulness

Truthfulness in Speech
(Speaking the truth)
Truthfulness is one of the main foundations of the Druze Tawhid religion. It is the most important quality that a good person possesses, and it complements all other good qualities. It is the mother of all good in a person’s character, and it is the source of all other virtues.
All religions advocate truthfulness and urge us to be truthful. In the holy Quran there are many verses that call for truthfulness and warn us from lying (not being truthful): “Oh you believers obey
God and be truthful.” Also in the Old Testament and the holy Bible many sayings that advocate truthfulness: “Do not steal; Do not lie; Do not deceive; Do not take a false oath (do not falsely swear in the name of God) else your Gods name would be tarnished.
All prophets and saints are described as being truthful, and the great quality of truthfulness have decorated their sayings and their deeds. Truthfulness is also the quality of the wise and “men of good deeds” for it is beneficial both in the material life and in the afterlife. It is said that “truth leads to bliss, and bliss leads to heaven, while lying leads to belligerence, and belligerence leads to hell.”

The story of the boy who cried wolf!
The people in the village heard a cry for help from one of the shepherds: “Help.. Help. the wolf is attacking my sheep.” The people of the village hurried to help the boy carrying their axes and sticks. When they arrived to the place where the herd was, they saw the sheep grazing quietly, but to their surprise they did not see any wolf. They realized that the shepherd boy was lying.

A few days later they were surprised to hear the shepherd’s cry again asking for their help to ward off the vicious wolf that was attacking his sheep. For the second time they answered his cry for help and ran as quickly as they can to aid him. Again, they discovered that he was lying.

A week passed by, and this time a wolf did actually attack the herd. The shepherd boy was quick to let out his cries asking the villagers for help. Again they were awakened early in the morning to his cries. This time they were not going to be fooled and fall victims to the game played by the shepherd boy. No one in the village answered his cries for help. This was a serious disaster for the shepherd as the mean and hungry wolf killed many of his sheep and sent him running towards the village crying.

In this way the shepherd was punished for his lies.