February 16, 2025
What do people need as much - or sometimes more - than a listening ear?
King Solomon said:
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern],
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].*
The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians: …”speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Christ.”**
When you learned to drive a car, you were told about “blind spots.” These are area that the car mirrors do not allow you to see and could cause you to have an accident, unless you turn your head to catch the scene clearly.
Unfortunately, most of us have personal blind spots, areas in our characters and/or personalities which cause us to have interpersonal conflicts or spiritual problems. A wise, objective friend can see what we cannot perceive and then help us to change.
The wounds of a friend can be like a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting out a diseased area. There is pain for us, but also the potential of healing. By contrast, the self-serving “kisses of an enemy” smooth over the truth we need to hear and then our faults and sins fester.
A friend once challenged me that I was too idealistic and this was causing me to have highly unrealistic expectations. This was causing stress in the lives of those I loved. Sigh. I needed to hear this and see it. My change in perspective brought good results.
*Proverbs 27:6 (AMP)
*Ephesians 4:15 (RSV)
