Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Pro 27:6)
I just hate it when a friend tells me something I need to hear. Boy, sometimes the truth hurts. It’s much more fun to get a compliment. But sometimes when you love someone the most loving thing you can do is to speak the hard truth. Speaking the truth in love is an art few of us have mastered but all of us must practice. When I’m on the wrong track I need you to love me enough to set me straight. The world is full of insincere flatterers who will tell me what I want to hear just so they can manipulate me to their advantage. A faithful friend will wound me now to save me from greater trouble in the future.
Showing posts with label accountability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accountability. Show all posts
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Standing Against the Crowd
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit. (Ex 23:2-3)
The Bible is full of exhortations for the rich and the powerful not to take advantage of the poor and the powerless (v6). And well it should be because throughout the ages the wealthy have often oppressed the poor. I think this verse might be unique, however, in seeming to stick up for the rights of the rich man. Marxism contains the idea of forcible redistribution of wealth, but this verse clearly speaks against that. The power of the mob does not convey the right to steal. Justice is justice, and should be impartial.
The larger issue here, as well, is that it is easy to get caught up in whatever everyone around you is doing, but we must resist that. We are always personally accountable to God for our actions, regardless of what “they” are doing. We teach our teenagers about peer pressure, but the temptation to go along with the crowd does not end when you become an adult. Lord, help me to be true to you and your Word, no matter what everyone around me is doing.
The Bible is full of exhortations for the rich and the powerful not to take advantage of the poor and the powerless (v6). And well it should be because throughout the ages the wealthy have often oppressed the poor. I think this verse might be unique, however, in seeming to stick up for the rights of the rich man. Marxism contains the idea of forcible redistribution of wealth, but this verse clearly speaks against that. The power of the mob does not convey the right to steal. Justice is justice, and should be impartial.
The larger issue here, as well, is that it is easy to get caught up in whatever everyone around you is doing, but we must resist that. We are always personally accountable to God for our actions, regardless of what “they” are doing. We teach our teenagers about peer pressure, but the temptation to go along with the crowd does not end when you become an adult. Lord, help me to be true to you and your Word, no matter what everyone around me is doing.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Look Who's Watching
For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths. (Pr 5:21)
If we could keep this truth firmly in mind it might help dissuade us from sinning. I need to cultivate being in his presence at all times. That means several things at several levels, but one of them is knowing that he is watching all my actions, even hearing all my thoughts. Lord, help me to remember you at all times. When I am tempted, help me remember that you are there, not just as judge, but as the one who both inspires me and empowers me to do your will.
If we could keep this truth firmly in mind it might help dissuade us from sinning. I need to cultivate being in his presence at all times. That means several things at several levels, but one of them is knowing that he is watching all my actions, even hearing all my thoughts. Lord, help me to remember you at all times. When I am tempted, help me remember that you are there, not just as judge, but as the one who both inspires me and empowers me to do your will.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Sharpening Stones
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Pr 27:17)
We have to be a bit abrasive if we are going to help each other, and we have to be in close contact. There’s no substitute for meeting regularly and sharing what’s really going on in our lives. There’s no substitute for speaking frankly with each other when the situation warrants it. Not that we should ever be rude, but speaking the truth in love. Of course we should be encouraging, too. But when a brother is deceiving himself, when he is blind to his self-destructive behavior, we must tell him if we truly love him.
We have to be a bit abrasive if we are going to help each other, and we have to be in close contact. There’s no substitute for meeting regularly and sharing what’s really going on in our lives. There’s no substitute for speaking frankly with each other when the situation warrants it. Not that we should ever be rude, but speaking the truth in love. Of course we should be encouraging, too. But when a brother is deceiving himself, when he is blind to his self-destructive behavior, we must tell him if we truly love him.
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