Separating Friends

We learn from James that the tongue is a destructive force in the lives of men. We learn from Proverbs all the different ways in which this destruction comes. For one example, “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends” (Prov. 16:28). Whenever a crop of strife arises, we know from the word of God that someone has been farming. We know also from this passage that one of the techniques used in this sowing is that of destructive whispering. The one who sows discord takes someone aside feigning concern, or something else very spiritual. No one ever says, “Hello, I am an out-of-control gossip and have come to destroy all your friendships.” But if we heed the Scriptures at this point, we see that the separation of friends is commonly associated with the surrounding talk. Someone has aptly said that it takes two friends to wound you–one to say something unkind, and the other one to get the word to you right away.