In your group of friends, you likely have people who are supportive and kind – but do you have a friend who actually wounds you?
We don’t like to think about being hurt, yet God’s Word says: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” – Proverbs 27:6
But what exactly does it mean to be “wounded” by someone in a faithful way?
To start, we aren’t talking about surrounding yourself with toxic and abusive friends who demean you.
And we aren’t saying to choose friends who call you names or criticize your every move.
But we are talking about finding friends who will tell you the truth and call out your sin – even when you don’t want to hear it.
The goal isn’t to have someone sit and point out your every flaw…
… but rather to have a friend who cares about you so deeply, it pains them to see you stumble.
If a believer is caught in sin – the goal should always be restoration.
When a friend confronts you about an area of sin in your life, their motive should be to correct you, because they love you, and they know that sin is destructive and ultimately leads to death.
And while some friends are known as the “fun friend” – who simply want to celebrate the good times and ignore anything that could cause tension within a friendship…
… these aren’t the people you can truly depend on to help you when your life is taking a wrong turn.
Anyone can say what you want to hear or “sign off” on your lifestyle.
But a true and godly friend won’t want to watch you walk off a cliff, so they’ll tell you what you need to hear – not necessarily what you want to hear.
For example, they’ll tell you why it’s unwise to be dating a nonbeliever, or how your temper is ruining your Christian witness.
As a Christian, you need accountability to help you stay on the narrow path.
And if you are the faithful friend correcting another – remember, all things must be done in love, not with hostility or self-righteousness.
The goal isn’t to boast about how “religious” you are when pointing out the sin in somebody else’s life.
We must always take the plank out of our own eye first.
But by being in a Biblical community and walking with other believers, it’s true what they say – iron sharpens iron.
While anyone can tell you what you want to hear, a true friend who loves you will tell you what you need to hear.
They will wound you – for your ultimate good.
So cheers to the friends who love us enough to tell us the truth, faithful are their wounds.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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