Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiples kisses. (Proverbs 27:5-6)
TRANSPARENCY. A second requirement for friendship is transparency. The King James Version renders the first part of Proverbs 27:6 as "faithful are the wounds of a friend." What are "faithful wounds"? The phrase means that real friends do open rebuke, they tell each other things they need to hear even if they are painful. If you are too afraid to say what needs to be said, you are really of your friend's soul.
Have you ever listened to a recording of yourself and thought, "I don't sound like that." But yes, you do---you can't hear from within your body what your voice really sounds like outside. And without the perspective of others we will never know our strengths and weaknesses. If you have a measure of status in the world, or if you have chosen friends poorly, you may just be surrounded by flatterers. (29:5) Transparency is scary, but we need it. And to get courage, look to the one who became so vulnerable for you that he died on the cross. How faithful were the wounds of this friend for you!
How many real friends do you have----friends who will speak the truth in love to you?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you became a vulnerable human being to show us the truth about ourselves. You were faithful and constant even to death on the cross. Now, Lord, reproduce in me that same character and let me be a friend to others as you have been a friend to me. Amen.
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