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Proverbs 27 (ESV)

5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy…

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
¹⁰ Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,
and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is near
than a brother who is far away…

17 Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.

REFLECTION:

These few proverb verses especially teach us how to communicate with friends sincerely. Who would like a friend’s rebuke rather than an enemy’s compliment? Who would like the wounds of a friend better than the kisses of an enemy? They are those who have the wisdom to see the hidden motives behind them. A friend who really cares about you will give you unpleasant advice, like a bitter medicine, you know it is for your benefit; on the contrary, the enemy will use sweet words to send you to death when you are burst with joy. But everyone likes to listen to what is pleasant to the ear, even if the enemy says it. Remember that no matter how unpleasant a friend’s advice is, it is better than an enemy’s compliment. When people get along with good friends, they get mutual encouragement. The sincere exchange of ideas between good friends can give people new insights, and they can get rid of the bad ideas. Reflect if someone is always your good friend. And are you often other people’s good friends?

PRAYER:

Pray for God to give you wisdom to discern right from wrong, be willing to listen to unpleasant words of truth, and be able to discern people’s secret motives, and not listen to sweet words of harm. Pray for God to give you more brothers and sisters in the church to be good friends with you. Encourage each other, watch over each other, build up each other, and walk together on the path of truth.

HYMN:

Above All – youtu.be/Q7EPZV56PuA