LOVE'S CRITICISM

"The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than be saved by criticism." - Norman Vincent Peale


Proverbs 27:5-6 (GNT)
5 Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don't care for him at all.
6. Friends mean well, even when they hurt you. But when an enemy puts his arm around your shoulder—watch out!


There are so many people in history and even in our present day and age who have fallen and crashed because they didn't give a listening ear to the rebukes and warnings from those who loved them. Among other reasons, God in His immeasurable wisdom and kindness has given you family members, friends and/or loved ones to protect you from dangers you're too carried away to notice. Learn to listen to them and when you're all alone ponder on and muse over what they said. You must not take everything but a good part will usually be of help. The first thing I want to share is that one of the things a true friend does is to correct you when they see you headed in the wrong direction. A person who knows you're headed for a crash but shows no concern is not a friend. According to the rules of love, you owe your friends and those you love the truth. You owe them the truth when they like it and when they don't like it.

In correcting people we should be very honest with them about the dangers they're heading for and why they should desist. But more so, we should use an attitude of love. The aim of our correction is to help them, not to destroy them. I think we all need to learn how to be more frank in our dealings with people. Sometimes we shy away from being truthful to people about their obvious detrimental indulgences and we make them feel all is well. All is not well if we lie when we should caution. Yes, it's true that some people may still not listen to your correction even though you do it in love. In that case what should you do? Pray for them but go ahead and still correct them. You never can tell, their resistance may be a lot less than you thought. A good friend is willing to reprimand and declare their disapproval of another friend's actions even if that other friend may initially get offended.

Love does not shy away from correcting because it does not want the other person to feel bad. Sometimes we need to feel bad before we feel better. When you have corrected, pray for them that they'll see the light and that they'll be courageous enough to turn a new leaf. Let's arise and protect the friends, family members and loved ones who God has given us. Sometimes people are so carried away with the praises of those who really don't care about them. The portion of Scripture we're focusing on today tells us the praises and kisses of enemies should not be trusted. Do not get carried away by praises. Value those who point out areas where you need to shape up, even if what they tell you isn't easy to swallow. Let's remember that our loved ones and friends mean well when they correct us. Let's allow criticisms make us better.


Keep Loving, Keep Living.................LOVE ISSUES
@Bibilovejunkie