OUR FRIENDS; WHO ARE THEY?
By H. C. Miller
So selfish are we by nature, that we are unable to tell, without the help of God, who are our friends. Naturally we love praise, love to be told of our good deeds, to be called righteous; love to think thus of ourselves. And this is found running through our whole being, so that he who pampers to our fleshly desires is esteemed our truest and best friend. Are we sick, neighbors crowd to our bedside in kindness, but with misplaced kindness, to comfort and to minister. One brings a nicely-prepared custard or pie, another a cake, another a fowl, a fourth a bottle of wine of her own make, some a jelly, some a stew; while yet another thought not to bring anything, but earnestly unites his voice with the rest in urging to eat, or we shall starve. Now, though nature is staggering under her load, and is laboring hard to put off, and needs rest, quiet, and abstinence from food, yet how readily we incline to receive such advice as good, and the givers as our truest friends. Perchance one, and only one, lifts up the warning voice, and calls for truth and right; tremblingly, yet lovingly, demands a denial of the lusts, and a crucifying of the flesh. He is viewed as an enemy. This reminds us of Paul's question to the Galatians: “Am I therefore your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Gal. iv, 16. This is after he has reproved them for turning again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto they desired again to be in bondage. “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” was asked in this same spirit which yet esteemed the four hundred false prophets to be true friends, and stood ready to support them. “And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” 1 Kings xxii, 8. “And all the prophets prophesied so; saying according to the king's desire, and the messenger sent for Micaiah said: “Behold, now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth; let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good,” that is, say just as the king would like to do, whether it is true or not. Micaiah comes into the presence of the king, in the midst of his esteemed friends, and prophesied, but his words pleased not the king. Singular fellow, to dare to speak differently from others; but he spoke the truth. He was the king's true friend. “And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did not I tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?” Many look upon those who bear a straight testimony in regard to their faults, who tell them the truth, as enemies, when they are their true friends. They do not object to being told of some of their smaller faults, if the testimony is so mingled with praises of their good deeds as to be no longer sharper than any two-edged sword, but an emollient, soothing to the pride. But God does not so desire. “Help Lord: for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity, every one with his neighbor, with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord will cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.” Ps. xii, 1-3. H. C. MILLER.