Do you know the story of the fox who praised the crow's singing? She didn't actually want to hear the crow sing. She wanted the cheese in its beak!
When the crow opened its beak proudly to sing, the cheese fell, and the fox grabbed it. Sometimes someone showers you with compliments not because they like you, but because they want something.
A real compliment is great and feels good. But when someone only says what you want to hear to get something, that's flattery. A true friend tells the truth, even when it's not what you'd like to hear. And Jesus, who is the Truth, always tells us what's best for us.
A true friend tells the truth, not just what you want to hear.
A true friend tells the truth, not just what you want to hear.