Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
When speaking about friends and enemies Mark Twain once said, “It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart. The one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.” Sometimes friendship involves having the courage to speak the truth, even when it may be difficult or uncomfortable. But we must check our heart motives when sharing truth. Are we sharing with a spirit of love, kindness, and good intentions? Or are we sharing out of an eagerness to gossip? When sharing with our friends, it’s essential to approach those conversations with humility. And with the intention of seeking to understand and support others rather than tearing them down. Or worse yet, to embarrass or hurt them. True Christian friendship is anchored in truth, as it seeks to build each other up in love and righteousness. And true Christian friends are those committed to speaking truth in love, gently correcting and encouraging one another to grow in faith.
