Thursday: Wounds Better Than Kisses?

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."     Proverbs 27:6

This verse seems backwards but it is very important that we understand what Solomon is saying. We often think that our friends are to encourage us and build us up. This is true, but it is even more important that our keep us humble and keep us accountable. If have sharp quick responses it is a friend who will confront you on these issues because they want to see you be the best you can be. An enemy in this case will just let it slip because they don't care how you act or who you become. Criticism from a friend is better then a complement from an enemy. The constructive criticism from a friend will build you up, whereas a complement from an enemy at most is thoughtful, but results meaningless. We must not be so unapproachable that when a friends try to help us we get all defensive and see them as trying to take us down. As friends we are to build each other up and confront one another. Think about who your friends are, who are merely people you hang out with. A true friend will lower themselves to build you up and they will confront you about anything.

Remember: "Criticism from a friend is better then a complement from an enemy"
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