I’ve had a tough time lately differentiating my friends from my enemies. In this world, where we were created to be social creatures, we find ourselves most comfortable and at peace when we have family, friends, and acquaintances by our side. There is a reality that those who call us friends may cause us grief and hardship and constantly disappoint us. So to try and learn how to maneuver in all of this, let’s take a look at what the word of God says about friends.
We see many times in the bible where friends were there to console and help in times of sickness, trouble, etc. Jeptha’s daughter’s friends consoled her before her death. (Judges 11:37-38). Not only consolation, but friends may rebuke us in love. “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy”. (Proverbs 27:6)
There are some negative aspects to friendships. Supposed friends can lead us into sin as we see in (2 Samuel 13:1-6). Here we see Jonadab persuading Amnon to rape his step-sister Tamar. Friends can provide false comfort and bad advice. much like Job’s friends did him. Friends can prove to be false pretending affections for their own motives and deserting us when the friendship no longer serves them as seen in Psalm 55:12-14 and Proverbs 19:4-7.
With all of this considered, we should prayerfully choose our friends because scripture tells us “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
What are we to do with “Enemies Calling themselves Friends”?
Proverbs 1:1-10 tells us to turn our backs on those that entice us and not to go along with them. Proverbs 4:14-19 (NLT) says this:
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.“
It is my prayer that these scriptures will help you navigate through life and early detect those “enemies who call themselves friends”!