What I'd Rather

Open rebuke is better

than love carefully concealed.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:5-6

We all have our preferences. I'd rather have steak than salad. I'd rather have Coke than Pepsi. I'd rather have Dr. Pepper than Pepsi. I'd rather have Sprite or Sierra Mist or 7-Up than Pepsi. I'd rather have sweet than unsweet. I'd rather have it cold than hot. There are a lot of things I'd rather...

I'd rather have someone in my life who loved me, than someone who hated me. I'd rather have someone in my life who was honest with me, than someone who was deceptive. I'd rather have someone in my life who was faithful, than someone who was treacherous.

But there are some people in the world who would rather surround themselves with false friends who will tell them only what they want to hear, who will flatter and praise, who will always agree no matter what the question asked or position taken.

Solomon believed it is better to have someone to rebuke and correct you openly when you need it, than someone who loves you secretly. How much better it is to have someone in your life who is willing to tell you you're wrong when you are, than someone who will just go along with whatever you want to do, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. I might learn from the one who is open and honest, but the one who hides their feelings is of no value or help to me at all.

A friend, a true friend, will confront my sin. A true friend will correct me when I'm wrong and show me a better way. A true friend will be absolutely honest with me, and a true friend will do it in love. And it may hurt to hear it, but at least I'm hearing it from a friend who loves me. A kiss from an enemy can be dishonest and deceitful; just ask Jesus about that kiss from Judas. A kiss can cover for hatred and spite. A kiss can distract from truth. But there's nothing dishonest about correction. And Solomon believed it was better to be wounded by his friends for a moment than to be betrayed by a kiss for nothing.