Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend

When a person is faithful, he is loyal. He is a true friend. Contrary to this, the enemy appears to be a friend, but he does so only to manipulate. He is treacherous.

Jesus Christ is the Faithful and True witness, we are told in Revelation. Satan, that deceiver of mankind, is the father of all lies.

Where are we in this evaluation? A faithful person can be trusted; a deceitful person cannot be trusted. Are we trustworthy? Do we boast about our accomplishments and our abilities and then can’t deliver when the time comes? (Proverbs 25:14).

Another proverb states:  “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?” (Prov. 20:6). From life experience, the first phrase, “Most men proclaim their own goodness” can be easily shown. Do not men on the whole think they are better than most. When asked whether they love, they almost invariably think they do. However, this is their own lips praising themselves. (Prov. 27:2).  The latter phrase, “who can find a faithful person?” says this is a rare occurrence indeed.

Was Proverb 20:6 written to offend us? No, rather we should take it to heart and say, “I am not so faithful.” 

“Show me a faithful man!” we may then cry out. We read in Revelation 19:11 that the Word of God is called Faithful and True (in righteousness He judges and makes war). Is this not the same Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth? (Rev. 1:5). We are told to consider this Christ Jesus, “who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.” (Heb. 3:2) Yes, the scripture tells us that God is faithful, even though we may be faithless or unfaithful: He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim 2:3).

So we have shown that Jesus is faithful. Who or what else then can be faithful? “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”, says the proverb we are studying.  We who are not faithless know that the scripture cannot be broken. If the proverb says that the wounds of a friend are faithful, then the wounds of a friend are faithful. But, this may seem too harsh to us. We are not accustomed to such direct speech. Then let us consider the opposite for a while: The deceitfulness of the enemy. This may help us to see the perfect truth contained in this proverb, by contrasting it with the lie.

Since we started in Proverbs, let us continue in it. “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” (Prov. 26:28). This seems obvious, but is it? Have we ever been led astray by the promises of the con artist? Has the flatterer ever manipulated us? We may pride ourselves in thinking that we can pick up the liar’s lie, or the flatterer’s flattery, but this is only pride.  The liar and the flatterer are both skilled at their trade, some more than others, but all deadly. Let’s continue with Proverbs. “The person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.” (Prov. 29:5). “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself. When he speaks kindly, do not believe him…” (Prov. 26:24-25). The liar has to conceal his true intentions or we would almost certainly never listen to him. But, we do end up listening, because he is so kind and gentle (we are flattered and we equate this with kindness and gentleness - such is the depraved human condition).

This is why Proverbs warns us time and time again about staying away from the deceitfulness of sin. How do we do this?  It says that wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding will “deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God.” (Prov 2:16-17). We read the sad story of a young man taken by an adulteress. She entices through her wantonness. She is not restrained, but “her feet would not stay at home.” She is religious: “I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows.” She speaks of love: “Come, let us take our fill of love until morning, let us delight ourselves with love.” With her persuasive words she led him astray - she seduced him with her smooth talk. Please read Proverbs chapter 7 for the entire wretched account.

Is this account only about young men and whores? Is it not a picture of all of those who are tempted by the kisses of the enemy? Yes, it is about us when we give in to the deceiver. Persuasive words can turn us from the holy calling. Peter says, “…they speak great swelling words of emptiness and by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18). But do we really need to have concern about this? After all, won’t the Holy Spirit take care of it for us? Perhaps more words from Peter will convince: “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away from the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” (2 peter 3:17). Perhaps the leading of the Holy Spirit is to be on guard and not believe every kind word spoken!

Let’s talk some more about the kisses of the enemy. It is always good to know the enemy so we don’t wind up in the enemy’s camp!  Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30. There are no neutral parties in the struggle of the soul. Once the choice is made, then there must be no going back. (Luke 9:62)

This is one of the “kisses” of the enemy. He says it is O.K. to go back. He quotes scriptures out of context that have to do with predestination. Romans chapter 8 is for the believer who struggles with whether he is saved or not… the evil one reassures the wicked that they can continue in their sins. For instance, verses 38-39 say, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” But this is only for the elect (Romans 8:30). It excludes those who fancy themselves Christians just because they call God “daddy”, all the while mocking Him by their wicked lives. “But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” 2 Timothy 2:19

Eventually, these sincere but mislead people give up and shrink back to destruction. “But we [the elect] are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but are of those who believe and are saved.” (Heb 10:39). The current false preaching of the false church does not venture past the comfortable “God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life” (but don’t bother them with the Scriptural record).

Another strategy of the enemy is to trick us into thinking that we should mold our Christian witness to be non-offensive to the world.  He would trick us into thinking that in so doing we are tolerant, loving and non-judgmental. Those who do not want persecution dare not make enemies with the world. Their gospels therefore cater to the latest fads, fashions, and fakery. They really are not enemies of the world, for they are partners. They are deceived and deceivers. “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived.” (2Tim 3:12-13). “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  (James 4:4).

Yes, the enemy quotes scripture. He quoted it to Jesus Christ and felt no fear. Why shouldn’t he quote it to the elect? He quotes: “Judge not… take the beam out of your eye… hypocrite.” So he has us in a corner, afraid to judge righteousness and truth. We timidly watch as evil tramples over defenseless souls. We bite our religious fingernails as we see imposters take over the church with their love for the wicked. “Judge not,” they say. “The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” (1 Corinthians 2:15). The wicked believe there are no such spiritual men (they follow their leaders without question, however). “Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life!” (1  Corinthians 6:3). When we see a so-called “brother” sinning a sin that leads to death, we are to have nothing to do with him. We have just judged the matter and we have judged righteously. “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Drive out the wicked person from among you." (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

Because of the sinful heart of man, we have a problem with judging by outward appearances and not by actual works. That’s how the enemy operates so successfully. He knows our flesh. It loves to be flattered. It loves the outward things and hates the purity of the soul desired by God.  We must judge this to be true and do something about it. “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." (John 7:24). “You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me. (John 8:15-16). “But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when the Lord judges us, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

The end of the matter is this:  We must not despise the chastening of the Lord.  He does so for our own benefit. The enemy crouches in darkness, setting traps for the soul. He does so by alluring the flesh and its appetites. This all feels so wonderful and good to the flesh that we may be tempted to put the word “love” on it. In contrast, we may feel that the true and faithful witness hates us, because he wounds us with the truth. My friend, you are going to have to make up your mind about these things. Search out the scriptures. Don’t let the kisses of the enemy stop you from seeing the truth about yourself and the world around you. You will stand before God someday and give an account of everything you have done in your body.

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But, with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet this does not justify me; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.  (1 Corinthians I 4:2-5).

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

Do not let the flattery of your enemy convince you otherwise. Seek out the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and ask for mercy and strength in time of need. Peace to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

- Chris Simonson