Flattery will get you everywhere, some believe. A flatterer is not one who is genuine—he has a motive and that motive is not for your good. The same person cannot be both flatterer and friend. A friend will tell you the truth, even at the risk of losing you as a friend because of his or her loyalty to you. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6).

A friend has no selfish motives within his comments. She has your interests at heart. He cannot build up a false notion in his friend. But remember, the Proverb continues, “The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”