True Friends

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”- Proverbs 27:5-6  

          In this age of technology, we spend more time talking to machines then we do actual people face to face. It could be said that we’ve become so busy and, yes, so self-absorbed, that we have no time left to truly know someone. It’s true of our interpersonal relationships and it’s true of our relationship with God as well. We may have brief conversations before or after church service, but what about friends. Do we truly have any close friends? People we could share absolutely anything with. When we have a troublesome problem, is there someone to whom we could vent without fear of judgment? And what of chastising someone for a sin you see them committing. That would be showing them love. To let someone continue on in their sin is not love at all; it’s fear of backlash from the guilty party. 

We can trust the wounds of a friend. The faithful rebuke of a friend becomes a salve to your wounded soul. We know they do it in love for our benefit. A true friend will offer to pray without being asked. True friends can be trusted no matter what. Those that patronize us or flatter us with compliments and praise cannot be trusted at all. It’s better that a friend come up to you and confront you with a problem they have with you then to hide it inside and let it fester. 

          God is very good to us. He is faithful and true. His rebuke to us through a brother or sister in Christ can correct our wrong behavior and thus save us pain and shame in the future. Beware of those who are disingenuous; embrace those you know in your spirit you can trust with all things. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries