Long journeys start with little steps, and big companies usually have humble beginnings.  The lifestyle change that is needed for new Christians to start following Jesus may seem to be huge (and it is!) but it starts with simple decisions; one by one.  In putting off our corrupted old nature, one of the first things to go is lying.  Jesus said that lies are the hall-mark of Satan (John 8:44); most of His evil work is done by inserting untruth into our minds (Acts 5:3-4).  If we believe the lie then we will take all sorts of actions that will defame God, damage us and others ... devilishly cunning - getting us to do his work.  And it easily becomes a habit.

Some people's lying habit is so blatant that you can never trust them. Others are more subtle.  But whatever has been our habit in this area, it needs to stop. While we can lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that black is white, most lying is to others.  As the working environment is where we often interact with other people, it is an important test-bed of our truthfulness.  This verse shows the two sides of the change: stopping the lies and being open about the truth.  Both need a mental resolution to get us going in the right direction, and an occasional personal audit to ensure that we are not slipping back.

However, Paul suggests that the place to start to put truth at the heart of our relationships is in the church.  If we belong to Christ, there is a special reason to be truthful with others in the fellowship. We are not a collection of individuals, but together we have been made into the Body of Christ.  No body which is healthy will fight against itself.  To lie, gossip or slander a brother or sister is like the hand trying to put out the eye of its own body (Ephesians 5:29-30).  Church should be no place for lies, gossip or half-truths or slander ... and it is utterly shameful when it happens (Titus 1:10-14).    

The practice of gracious truth will transform the church.  It is the only sensible way to proceed, both for Sundays and workdays.  And it is the only way that is endorsed by the Lord, who will also conduct the final audit!  But breaking a habit is not easy.  Perhaps ask one or two believing friends to check you for truth and accuracy (exaggeration is another form of lying), ask them to pray for you and invest time in looking at what the Bible has to say about telling the truth (Colossians 3:16).  If you have a workplace Christian group, perhaps you could agree to encourage and remind each other to stay in line with the truth, especially if lying has become a ‘business-style’.  Personally, the biggest dynamic of change is repentance.  When you have been untruthful, confess it to the Lord and ask for forgiveness.  That will also encourage you to humbly ask a brother or sister to hold you accountable in the future.