Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Proverbs 27:5
Being rebuked is something very few people would actually find good or desire. It is painful and difficult to take. There are also many who will never openly rebuke another person, feeling that it is harsh and never needed and will cause greater problems. Many do not like to have any direct confrontation with others and will then keep quiet with their thoughts and feelings. This is often seen as love for the other person when they keep silent about a bad issue.
Solomon says that open rebuke is better than love that is carefully concealed.
A rebuke is when someone very strongly points out something that is wrong within the life of someone else. It is a very strong attempt to get someone to make a different choice in life and to stop walking down some path that is leading to destruction.
When being rebuked, most people will rise up in self-righteous indignation and retaliate. It is something that is going against their self-pride and their character. For this reason, many will keep quiet and call that love for the other person.
There are times when a person needs to be directly rebuked to get them on the right path. If a person is standing on a train track, with a train coming and refuses to move, the person needs to be strongly rebuked for standing there. Being rebuked in this way is showing true love. It is caring about the welfare of the person.
Instead of taking offense to the rebuke, believers need to consider if there is truth in the rebuke and learn from it. It is better to be rebuked and turned onto the right path, than for someone to be quiet and allow destruction to occur.
You will have times in which you will be rebuked and other times in which you need to rebuke someone. Rebukes can be a sign of real love. Seek God’s wisdom when someone is rebuking you for something and also when you see someone going down the wrong path with their thoughts, actions or words.
Be willing to show true love in getting a person back on to the right path. Allow God to use a rebuke towards you to guide you back onto His path for your life. Do not keep true love concealed behind a false premise.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will guide you in times to rebuke; that God will give you wisdom when rebuked; and that you will show the true love of God to all others around you.
Picture by Chloe Lam on Unsplash
King David was a powerful and courage warrior, but he accepted a rebuke like a pro, he immediately repented of his sims. I believe this is what made a difference King David Vs. King Asa.
Very well said. I fully agree with you on King David and King Asa. Everyone will make mistakes and sin at times, however, when it is pointed out is what is done is what makes all the difference. Thank you for reading and the great words.
Have a blessed day in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.