every friend a slanderer

“Beware of your friends; do not trust anyone in your clan. For every one of them is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Jeremiah 9:4

Strong words from the Prophet Jeremiah in which he warns of the prevalence of deceit within people!. It's a bit of a head Melter because straight away it makes me think that '

If I'm warned not to trust others, then surely others are likewise warned not to trust me!'

This makes me ask myself;

'Does this imply that every single one of us is inherently deceitful?'

I've been thinking on this for a while now, and I've arrived at the conclusion that it doesn't necessarily imply that all of us are inherently deceitful! But rather, it points to the reality of humanity's fallenness and its tendency towards deception, as a result of living in a sin filled broken world!

But firstly, let's place our verse in the context that it was given!

Jeremiah 9 is a prophetic warning to the Nation of Judah, exposing the fact that falsehood and deceit have become prevalent and pervasive throughout the land. The prophet is speaking to a nation deeply affected by sin, where trust is scarce and fragile because many have become deceitful and slanderers!

But what about us?, well, the Bible teaches that all of us are affected by sin.

Romans 3:23 says,

'for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God'

And the reality is that 'Sin' distorts our intentions and actions, leading to deception, lies, selfishness, betrayal and all other sins included! Now, this doesn't mean that every person is inherently deceitful in every action. Still, it does mean that the capacity for sin, deceit, and slander is present even in professing Godly people!

While all people have the capacity for deception, the Bible also teaches us that, through God's grace, transformation is possible. As believers, we are called to live with integrity, honesty, and to love our neighbour. Jesus taught us to love God and our neighbour, and the Apostle Paul wrote about this in his letters to the early Church.

Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body.

Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

Jeremiahs warning isn't a 'blanket judgement' However it is a warning about the general tendency or risk within human relationships especially in this fallen world, rather than a blanket statement about everyone's innate nature! Jeremiah urges caution and wisdom, not hopeless cynicism!

In addition Jeremiah's warning prompts each of us to reflect on our own tendencies!

Are we quick to trust?

Are we truthful?

Do we slander others, and for who's gain?

As you ponder these questions for yourselves, hopefully it'll become apparent that this verse serves as a mirror, encouraging each of us to examine our own heart and motives as we interact with each other and especially the things we say about other!

Remember, shine your Christ light bright, and God bless,

Trev.