I’m glad this post represents the end of the Proverbs 6 list of things God hates. Thinking of God in negative terms isn’t natural to me.

For one thing, God is so big, so wise, so loving, so knowledgeable–I could go on.

For another, I know that God is for us. He wants to bless us.

But as a father, God knows it only makes things worse to give the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval to the actions of stubborn children who insist on misbehaving. It might be wise, then, to check our behavior against this list every once in a while, like checking a map to make sure we’re still on the right road.

The final two things God hates are “a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.”

“A false witness who pours out lies” includes people who lie after taking an oath to speak the truth, as in court. But it also appears to include people speaking as experts. An example from a political campaign would be a candidate declaring that several studies prove their point when, in fact, no real studies have been done. Or it might be a scientist misrepresenting study results. Anyone using experience and expert status to promote lies would fit here.

“A person who sows discord among brothers” may also have multiple applications. Some Bible translations refer to creating discord in a family–destructive behavior at the very core of our lives. Other translations also include the destruction of trust among members of any group that could be considered some sort of brotherhood, where people are not simply casual acquaintances, but people who trust and rely on each other.

Shouldn’t we also hate lies from someone on whom we should be able to rely and discord created in the close relationships that enhance our lives? A casual attitude toward this stuff means we’ll get a lot more where that came from.

Let me end with happier thoughts. Proverbs 6 says God hates seven things, while the list of good news items about and from God is endless. As are the positive ways God impacts our lives.

Author Bette Dowdell writes and speaks about two things: Maximizing Life and Maximizing Health. Read more at http://BetteDowdell.com