When Friends Become Enemies

Have you ever had a close friend you thought you could trust, and somewhere along life's messy road, they turned into an enemy?

It's sad but this happens all the time. Often the people we hold closest in our lives become the most distant over time and often turn into enemies. And even though I don't have an answer as to how or why this happens, I have been learning a lot lately about my reaction in these types of situations and how it affects my life and my walk with Christ. What I've learned though, is that a friendship is a mutual agreement to love each other. When you become enemies, again, it is a mutual agreement to dislike each other. The root of being enemies often develops from anger inside that has been ignored and has turned into jealousy, contempt or even hatred. But one thing I know: You can't be enemies with someone you love. We'll pick back up on this idea in a moment.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 says "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools."

People in your life will hurt you. People will use you, reject you, hate you, and forsake you. However, our attitude towards them has nothing to do with how they treat us. Our attitude and actions are within our control. Someone else's attitude and actions are not.  How we behave should never be dependent on how someone else behaves toward us. The Bible clearly shows us that God does not intend for us to walk around with anger in our hearts. He says that "anger lodges in the heart of fools." If that is the case, no matter what someone may do to me or say against me, I don't want to be considered a fool in God's eyes. 

Luke 6:27-36 says "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from who you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, 

and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Jesus calls us to a higher standard of living. If you read this passage, it almost seems insane to react in the way He is telling us to when people sin against us. However, Jesus isn't asking us to be Christians in a world of sinners and to behave as we are expected. He's telling us to behave as we're NOT expected. He's calling us to a higher standard, set apart from the world. How can unsaved people see a difference in us if we always behave as we're expected?

Our lives are purposed to be different. We're called to portray Jesus as best as humanly possible. What an incredible task! I want to begin today to read and study more about how Christ commands us to act. Even though it may seem different or odd, I want to do my best to live like Jesus so that I can spread his love with as many lost souls as my short lifetime will allow.

Personally, this passage speaks to my life in insurmountable ways right now. I was so convicted reading these words that I had to post a blog about it. I'm not sure how many people can relate, but if anything, it really showed me some things about how I react when others sin against me and some core areas in my life I need to work on and change. I hope it had the same effect for some of you.