Friends

3. July 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Today, I was talking to a really close friend of mine about friendship.  We talked about real friends and how sometimes it is not always easy to hear truth and sometimes flatteries are more favorable.   I was saying to this friend how I appreciate the realness of our relationship and how we can say anything to each other even if it hurts; we are faithful to the friendship and faithful to telling each other the truth. 

So often, I hear people say that if I knew “such and such” I would not tell my friend.  I would let them find out on their own for fear that the friend would be upset and it would damage the relationship.     

During this holiday weekend, take time to reach out to your friends.  Many of us are blessed in this lifetime if we can claim one true friend and highly blessed if we have more than one.  I’m talking about those “die hard” friends.   The kind that are not seasonal, that will be there through thick and thin, good and bad, prosperity and poverty, etc.  We have many acquaintances but few friends.    

For some of us, we need to reconcile.   Be careful about throwing away people who had made mistakes and wronged you, or you think have wronged you; sometimes those can develop into some of the greatest friendships ever.  Be discerning. 

Today, I would like to leave you with this scripture: 

Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (KJV)  

Another version reads:  Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.  (NIV)  

The Complete Jewish bible states:  Wounds from a friend are received as well-meant, but an enemy’s kisses are insincere.  I included the different versions so you can clearly see the meaning. 

The proverbial wisdom teaches us that “reproofs” from a friend, or pain or difficult sayings from a friend can be trusted or can be received for the good of a friend but the kiss of an enemy are insincere or deceitful.     

I have seen friendships destroyed because one friend told the other one something and the person being told thought that the friend was trying to destroy a relationship the friend was in or had alterior motives and in the end only to find out that the friend was right and was only looking out for their best interest. 

Have a great holiday weekend.   Make sure you check out the website on Monday, there will be  more “free classes” and sermons that you can listen to and we will return to our study on the book of Matthew.   

See you Monday.    God Bless. 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily 

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