Talk is cheap; actions speak louder than words. Both idioms highlight the importance of promises and illustrate the difference between genuine promises and false ones, which can ultimately be revealed through the actions of the speaker.

What actions have been taken by the person making the promises? Do those actions align with their words? Are there any inconsistencies?

Now, consider if the person speaking is your inner voice. Have you been dishonest with yourself? Are there inconsistencies between your thoughts and reality? Do your actions align with the teachings of Christ?

There are no discrepancies in the truth.

So, why is truth important?

Truth is essential for maintaining credibility, legitimacy, and relationships. Real connections—whether with the Lord, with others, or even with yourself—cannot exist without honesty and truthfulness.

What happens when you cannot trust yourself?

You may deceive yourself into believing you are invincible or convince yourself that you possess power akin to that of God, leading to megalomaniacal delusions.

If this occurs, you might end up like Bernie Madoff, thinking you are a genius capable of deceiving everyone with your Ponzi scheme.

But how wise is it to believe you can outsmart the system with unsustainable schemes and lies?

A Ponzi scheme is inherently unsustainable. It begins with zero returns and continues to generate negative returns while falsely reporting positive outcomes that never truly existed.

The costs and payouts required far exceed any nonexistent returns, leading to an inevitable collapse. Thus, no matter how clever Madoff thought he was, he could not sustain his house of cards indefinitely.

This principle applies to any speculative investment that is not backed by real earnings and returns; eventually, the costs become untenable, and the investment will fail, collapsing under its own weight.

Trust is also crucial for a stable society. Without trust, there is no credibility, legitimacy, or confidence in the people and leaders within a system.

This system encompasses not only political elements but also economic ones. When consumer trust erodes, there is no confidence that leaders care about the populace. Once consumer confidence is lost, purchasing power diminishes, making the concept of a "death economy" a real possibility.*

Therefore, speaking the truth is essential for the functioning of relationships, economies, and society as a whole.

* A "death economy" refers to an economy marked by stagnation, failure, or severe recession and depression.