Joel Osteen - Fake Friends

I want to talk to you today about Fake Friends. There are people that God brings into our lives who are amazing; they love us unconditionally, cheer us on, celebrate our victories, and stick with us through thick and thin. However, amidst all these great people, there will be some fake friends—people with hidden agendas and ulterior motives. They're not concerned about you; they're concerned about what you can do for them. They see you as an opportunity and will use control and manipulation to get what they want, making you feel guilty for not meeting their expectations.

A fake friend is two-faced; they clap when you succeed and act like they're happy, but deep down, they're jealous, hoping you would fail. They compliment you on your new outfit and act excited about your promotion, yet behind your back, they talk about how you didn't deserve it and make derogatory remarks. Fake friends create unnecessary drama, stir things up, and bring confusion. They pretend to look out for you, doing you a favor, but their real agenda is to upset you and cause strife and turmoil. If you lack discernment and cannot recognize who is a true friend with your best interests at heart and who is a fake friend just here for what you can do for them, life can be frustrating.