David Bahn – Reflections

Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. ¹³ You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, ¹⁴ and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. ¹⁸ It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, ¹⁹ my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! ²⁰ I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Have you ever been smooth-talked into buying something you really didn’t need?

During a period of 6 months we were visited by two of the most smooth-talking door-to-door salesmen on the face of the planet. One was selling encyclopedias. Encyclopedia Americana. They were beautifully bound. There was also a set of children’s stories. A three-volume medical set was part of the deal. Our children were 3 and 5 at the time. It would be years before they would need to use them. But we bought them.

Then there was the pan salesman. He gave a cooking demonstration in our kitchen. The thing I remember most about the demonstration was how he spun the lid on the pans as they sat on the stove as the steam escaped around the edges. That certainly was reason to buy those pans. So we did. Thankfully, however, within the three day cooling off period we cancelled the order (easier said than done). Alas our pan lids don’t spin as we’re cooking our food. I suspect somehow we’ll survive.

The proverb says, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Proverbs 27:6). I’m not sure those salesmen are enemies. But they sure did kiss up to us.

Then there was the wound from my Greek professor at the seminary. I was on the bubble as to whether I would pass the final Greek exam. These were no fluff exams. You really had to know your Greek, along with the vocabulary we had to know declensions, conjugations, grammatical rules, and where different accents go, and how they make a difference. I was asking my professor if I could have some grace, even before the test. He said no. “Greek,” he said, “is a sine qua non here.” It was an essential condition for continuing my studies. I buckled under and passed the test. Wounds from a friend can be trusted.

Paul is speaking some difficult words to the people in Galatia. He says, “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” 

Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly disciples of mine. You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

Sometimes we simply need to hear the truth – difficult and wounding as it may be. But if it serves to bring us closer to Jesus, turn us back from a wayward path, or correct a wrong belief, it serves for our good.

Sometimes we know what word of truth we need to hear – difficult as that may be. When it comes to us, may we realize that, indeed, wounds from a friend can be trusted. A hard word of truth spoken by a friend is a word of life.