SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 10/18/15- “Trust Your Friends Rebuke And Don’t Ever Trust An Enemy’s Compliments!” (Proverbs 27:5-6)

Posted on October 18, 2015 Updated on October 21, 2015

SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 10/18/15- “Trust Your Friends Rebuke And Don’t Ever Trust An Enemy’s Compliments!” (Proverbs 27:5-6)

Premise Question: Are we wise and mature enough to recognize and accept an open rebuke from a dear and close friend, when it’s for our own good and benefit; or are we so sensitive and thin skinned, that we live, yearn and thrive only on the compliments of others; and if and when it’s a detriment to our own well being, are we willing to even accept the adulation and excessive compliments that come from an avowed enemy?

“An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” (Proverbs‬ ‭27:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

When you truly love and approve of someone, it’s much more virtuous and acceptable to be open and transparent with them, by administering a firm, but gentle rebuke, when appropriate. Hurtful insults that causes anguish, distress and heartache, which results in producing heartbreak, actually are trustworthy, when they come from a close friend, who has your best interest and well being at heart, but deceitful, excessive compliments, with expressions of feigned affections are nothing but lies, and especially so, when they come from an enemy. (Proverbs 27:5-6 PDCP)

Bottom Line: Unfortunately, all too many of us receive our sense of self-worth and validation entirely from others, through the expressions and comments that are uttered with wonderful sounding platitudes and high praise! Not that being complementary of others is all bad, per se, because we ought to give honor where honor is due and we ought to build each other up, through encouraging and refreshing one another, but we also ought to be mature and grownup enough to be able to receive strong correction and appropriate discipline, when and where it is needed; administered in the form of a gentle, but firm, righteous rebuke from a loved and respected, highly regarded, brother or sister in The LORD! That we should be loving, kind, generous, respectful and considerate of one another, should be quite obvious and entirely apparent to everyone. But it should also be just as obvious and apparent to everyone, that being open and transparent, authentic and real, with each other is just as vitally critical, as it will truly, by having this perspective and attitude and then actually implementing and doing it, will prove our love, compassion, kindness, generosity, respect and consideration for one another. LORD help each and everyone of us to mature and grow up in such a way, that we will not be susceptible to being wooed, influenced or swayed, by the compliments of others, including our avowed enemies, but that we will be strong and courageous, standing firm in our faith, always being open and ready to receive, with joy, an appropriate and open correction and righteous rebuke! It’s really for our own benefit, our greatest good and interest, as well as, our well being. Blessings…
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