Good Friends Tell You the Truth.

By Greg Sanders

When I was in school, it was a popular trick to write the words “kick me” on a sheet of paper and then tape it to someone’s back without them knowing. Of course, as they walked down the hall all the passer byers would then either laugh and point or maybe even give them a swift kick to the backside. The best prevention against such encounters was a good friend. A good friend would let you know that a sign had been placed on your back and then remove it.

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” One of the true gifts in life are friends who tell you the truth. The problem is that we don’t always like to hear the truth. Sometimes we enjoy deception so much we don’t want to embrace the truth. Friends are faithful to tell us the truth even when we don’t want to hear it. One of my mentors always said, “The truth will often make you mad before it sets you free.” How true that has been in my own life. When it is our own behavior, attitudes, and choices that are leading us astray, the last thing we want to hear is someone tell us that we are the problem or what we love has become the problem.

Do you know who your real friends are? They are not necessarily the ones who always agree with you and flatter you. Your real friends are the ones who tell you the truth. Your real friends tell you the truth even when you don’t want to hear it.

Today’s Challenge: Are there truths being spoken to you that you have been trying to ignore? Are your most faithful friends telling you something you don’t want to hear? Ask the Lord to open your ears and your heart to the truth of His word. Develop friendships with people who are committed to telling you the truth. You need people who will speak the truth.

Blessings,

Greg