Why do people say one thing and then do the opposite?

A friend online posed this question:

My immediate thoughts were:

Usually because in a moment, they let the desires of their flesh and their pride and ego lead them to compromise their integrity with little regard for the consequences.

Especially if they have no firm foundation with regards to their values and beliefs to guide them, they might listen to their own heart on the matter, which can get people into all kinds of compromising situations.

And people learn to lie by watching those around them. Look at the examples of politicians, of media/news, of television shows, of social media posts where so many people are thinking only of their agenda, wants, feelings, opinions, etc — with no real interest in what is right or just our fair or reasonable.

So unless they see someone who is willing to admit, “I was wrong” and “I lied and that was wrong, and here’s what I’m going to do to try and make things right from what I’ve done that was wrong” — until they see that example (instead of people pointing out other’s lies and continuing to lie themselves) — what can we expect but for them to mimic the example we are giving them?

Yes, fearing God, and loving what is right, and turning away from what is bad is the best answer for a liar to become a source of truth.

But the concept of God is the most horrible lie to someone who only knows liars — they just see hypocrite religious teachers getting rich off of their followers when they hear “God” or “religion” mentioned, because they expect God to just be another liar and charleton (like what they know of themselves and of everyone else).

So we need to see the cost of being a liar ourselves (not just hope everyone else would be truthful, but we could still lie to gain an advantage).

This is necessary before we can even consider the value of genuine truth, of wisdom that does not change with the opinions of a culture or time, something truly pure, and holy and righteous without any hint of deceit — that is so unlike mere man.

And then, we might seek out this holy God to see if He is just a myth, or yet another lie.

His Word says that His promises are true and that He can not lie. Have we sought Him and tested to see if this is true?

Have we asked Him to teach us to be like Him so that we can turn from our lying ways?

We can’t control, demand, or expect others to not lie to us when it is convenient for them — if we still mitigate those “harmless little less” when it is convenient for us. So let’s focus on cleaning up our own house and sweeping it clean first — and if we can’t keep our own house clean by ourselves,  let’s ask someone stronger and more powerful and more truthful than ourselves for help.