“Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” 28:23: “He that rebukes a man afterward shall find more favor than he that flatters with his tongue.”
I had a good time “wrestling” with these two passages in Proverbs. Let me share with you what I concluded. I call it “real love.” Real love reveals itself. The gist of 27:5 is that love should not be hidden. Three of the sweetest words that we can share with friends is “I love you.” When those words are really meant, they are like a gift from God. Real love can also reveal itself through action. Acts of love and kindness are also like gifts from God. We should not hesitate to share the love that Jesus has put in our hearts with others. Real love is honest. This means that real love offers constructive criticism. (We just need to realize that constructive criticism is given to the person for whom it is meant, not to someone else. Otherwise it is gossip. Just Saying!) Criticism borne of the love of Jesus is also like a gift from God. It is also important for us to be able to accept constructive criticism. I know that I have grown in my walk with the Lord and in my ministry by friendly constructive criticism. I've had the unfriendly kind too, and was sometimes even helped by it. We just need be sure that our honest criticism is accompanied by love. According to 28:23, real love does not needlessly flatter. If we are going to flatter someone, let’s be sure that we really mean it. Jesus set the example for us in His conduct with people. When He called Simon Peter to follow him, He told Peter that he was a “rock.” (That is what Peter, or Petros in Greek, means.) That was not false flattery, because Peter was a born leader. But when the “Rock” bragged that he would protect Jesus at all costs, Jesus lovingly told Peter that he would not defend Him but would deny Him. Of course, you know Peter denied Jesus three times. Later, before He ascended, Jesus again flattered Peter by telling him to “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:16) This was, again, a reference to Peter’s leadership qualities. When we really love people, we love them openly and honestly. This is what real Christian fellowship is about. We need more of it!!!!! Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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September 2021
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