So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”
1 King 22:8

What a reflection this conversation is of the church today. How often do people run away from preaching that convicts rather than comforts? How often do we avoid people who speak the truth? The flesh desires to be justified rather than confronted, and people would rather hear an encouraging lie than a convicting truth.

Who do you turn to when you need advice and counsel on any given situation? Have you ever avoided going to a specific person because you know it is likely that what they say is not going to be what you want to hear? A wise person will heed the words of a godly person, whether the message is easy to hear or not. A wise person will hear words that are counter to what they desire and prayerfully consider what is spoken, but a fool will follow their heart and reject godly counsel for deceitful words. Consider the words of Micaiah: “As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak” (1 Kin. 22:14).

Do you speak the truth, no matter how difficult it may be? Or are you like the false prophets that only speak what the king desired to hear, coming alongside him and prophesying falsely so that they could remain in good standing? Are you an entertainer for men or an ambassador for Christ? The false prophets that spoke deceitful encouragement were the downfall of the foolish king, and so it will be for all who accept the flattery of lying lips over the wounds of friends.

FAITHFUL are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful (emphasis mine).
Proverbs 27:6

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