Welcome Wounds

Read Proverbs 27

Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6

Try as we might, it is easy to cringe when we hear the words, “Now, you know I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t care about you, but . . .” It is a rare person who does not mind being criticized. It may help to realize that there truly is such a thing as constructive criticism. True friends who offer constructive criticism are seeking to help us become better people; the wound is merely the means to that end. Motivation is the key; true friends have our best interests at heart.

Motivation is also the key when an enemy “kisses” us. He or she certainly does not have our best interests at heart; the motive is of the ulterior variety. Perhaps the goal is to trick us into thinking the person is a friend in order to gain an advantage over us. Or the hope may be merely to use us against another person. The question for us concerns the foundation of the relationship: Is it trust or distrust?

A WORD FOR TODAY

Genuine love risks pain.

Lord, help me to recognize my true friends and to accept the ways that you use them to make me a better person.