Tell It Like It Is

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16

This is an interesting verse to say the least! Paul's experience with the Christians in Galatia reminds us that we often make enemies of our friends when we tell them the truth. Paul had introduced these people to the Lord and nurtured them in the faith. But later when false teachers infiltrated their Christian assemblies, Paul had to warn believers that they were forsaking Christ for the law. That caused them to become hostile toward Paul.

Elijah was always honest and forthright in his messages to Ahab. Yet one day when Ahab met him, he said, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" (I Kings 18:17). Why, Elijah was one of the best friends Israel had! But his thanks for being faithful was to be denounced as a troublemaker.

When Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the Lord whom they could consult, the king of Israel said, "There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil (1 Kings 22:8). The king didn't want the truth, and hated the one who spoke it to him.

John the Baptist told Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." (Mark 6:18). It was true, but such courageous handling of the truth soon led to John's execution.

Our Lord stirred up the hatred of the unbelieving Jews. What caused this hatred? It was because He had told them the truth! "But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth..." (John 8:40).

Thomas Jefferson said, "If you meant to escape malice, you should have confined yourself within the sleepy line of regular duty. There are two sides to every question, and if you take one with decision and act on it with effect, those who take the other will, of course, be hostile in proportion as they feel that effect."

The truth often hurts. Instead of bowing to it, men often curse the one who speaks it. The true servant of the Lord has already counted this cost. he must speak the truth or die.

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:6

We are admonished to "speak the truth in love," but we must be certain that we speak the truth!