KEY SCRIPTURE: John 13:21 KJV “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”

Life experiences have revealed many friends who have turned out to be enemies. Judas was such a close friend of Jesus, yet he sold Him for 30 pieces of silver. On the day of his betrayal, he used a kiss to sell him to those who had come for Him Luke 22:48 KJV “But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” A kiss is an act of love. (Well among the believers they had what was called a holy kiss.1Co 16:20 KJV” All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.”) In the case of Judas, he became an enemy of the Lord through greed.

There are a number of conditions that make certain friends become enemies. Before I consider some of the causes of what makes enemies out of friends, I wish to say that, money can never buy a trusted relationship. A former classmate of the nation’s president can have access to him, whiles a man’s money may not be able to do so. Your money may give you an association but not a relationship. Do not destroy a relationship through any carnal means.

Friends may become enemies through;

1. Envy. David was an aid of King Saul, who played the harp for demons that came upon Saul to depart from him. When Saul heard that, the women in his kingdom sang saying, Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousand, he became very envious of David to the point that he wanted to kill him. Many supposed friends are so envious of their colleagues that, they go to any length to harm them, make them fall, or eliminate them. That is, they seek to kill them.

Any friend who becomes envious of the success, achievement or victory of his friend was not a friend in the first place.

True friends do not seek an advantage over their friends but rejoice to see the joy of their friends. John 3:29 KJV “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy, therefore, is fulfilled.” The bridegroom is the privileged one because he has the bride, yet his friend the best man, rejoices over his success.

Some friends may become enemies when they do not overcome a hurt or an offense, which their friends might have caused them. Sadly, the one who offended might not be aware that, he has offended his friend, yet the offended keeps the grudge and does not tell the one who offended him. When a grudge stays for a long time, it becomes anger, from anger, it becomes rage, which grows to become bitterness, bitterness develops into pain and such pain is only satisfied when the one who caused it is taken from his or her life. The end result is a destruction of the friendship. It becomes worse when the offender does the same thing again,  not knowing he has offended him. The bible says let he who is offended go to him that has offended him and tell him what he has done. Matt 18:15 .

There are countless friendships that has been destroyed, whiles one party is full of accusations, and the other party knows not one thing why the relationship was destroyed.

The next reason why certain friendships get destroyed or becomes an enemy is when a third party comes in between them. This one sows seeds of discord. Pro 26:20 KJV “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” The talebearer destroys the friendship.

 To escape the traps of tale bearers, never rely on the information of that third person who has come between you and your friend says, always confirm everything through your personal inquiries from your friend.

THOUGHT: FRIENDSHIPS ARE SO EXPENSIVE, DO NOT DESTROY THEM, WITH TRIVIALITIES.

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 11:13 KJV” A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”

Mat 18:15 KJV” Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”