Know the Difference

Proverbs 27:6 You can trust what your friend says, even when it hurts. But your enemies want to hurt you, even when they act nice.

Not everybody you meet is actually who they appear to be. Sadly, some people promise a lot, but right in that moment when you need them, they fail you and sometimes, even turn on you.

If we lived in a perfect world, surrounded by perfect people, then everybody would be who they appear to be. There would be no pretenders. There would be no wolves in sheep’s clothing.

But, as you and I well know, we don’t live in a perfect world. There are people who pretend to be one thing, and yet turn out to be quite another. So, how do you tell the difference? How do you discern between a true friend and a false one?

Proverbs 27:6 You can trust what your friend says, even when it hurts. But your enemies want to hurt you, even when they act nice.

Sometimes, friendships can be prickly. Sometimes friends say things to one another that hurt. The truth often hurts. But don’t mistake that for false friendship. A true friend, to turn a saying on its head, always stabs you in the front. With a true friend, you know what you’re getting. They don’t spread rumours about you. They don’t gossip about you. They stand by you, even when the relationship’s a bit prickly.

But enemies are quite the opposite. They’re nice to your face, but they malign you behind your back. They’re the ones who’ll stab you in the back. Be wary of them. Keep your distance. Don’t trust them no matter how nice they appear.

You can trust what your friend says, even when it hurts. But your enemies want to hurt you, even when they act nice.

Look, some people are true gold. Others are merely gold-plated. Know the difference.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

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