Faithful Are The Wounds Of A Friend

Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place.

Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.

Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.

A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike; whoever restrains her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:5-17

Our friends can act like sandpaper for the Lord. Our choices are to submit to the smoothing process, confess our pride and stubborn stance.

King Solomon knew that life in community could be difficult, a theme he addressed in the book of Proverbs. In Chapter 27, we see his wisdom applied to relationships. He likens the sharp words between friends as iron sharpening iron: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

How might the Lord be smoothing out your rough edges for His glory?

The Lord allows our rough edges to be smoothed over through the sandpaper of life.

Our Daily Bread – July 26, 2016