Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Posted by Unknown | | Posted On Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:15-18
Friends, let's talk about accountability. I have been doing a Bible study with some ladies of one which I know through Home school fellowship. The others I am just beginning to get to know. But I am really excited about the whole mentoring, that God sought me out so that I could be mentored by someone who has been there. It is so nice to have that accountability as I have with some other precious friends.
Something that was in our study the other week was holding our spouses, brothers/sisters in Christ accountable. I had asked but "what if" it turns that person away from Christ. And the answer was a good one, and it was something like this, "If they are of Christ then they will not turn from Him." So true, when we are right with the Lord and we know we are wrong and sinning and when our friend says, "Ya, know that is not right," then we will turn back to God and seek His forgiveness. Even with young Christians and old, we, "if we are of Him" will not be turned away, but disciplined, instructed, and changed in our walk to make us more like HIM. Which leads me to the key verse Proverbs 27:6......Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but any enemy multiplies kisses.
A friend is one who loves at all times and will patiently help walk with you through those valleys and hard times. Even the good. So when a friend shares something, that may be hard to hear, it is because they love you. An enemy, not so much, they will lie and say not so nice things about you.
So, if you are so vain to think this post is about you, don't you, don't you? It probably is not, unless it is hitting home.
But I have been dwelling on this thought and just pondering His word in my mind and thinking about this whole accountability relationship we have with other Christians.
Why when we have asked another Christian or called them out and mind you in love, not out of us wanting to be right etc., but out of love and also looking at the log in our own eye........why is there the opposite reaction of not being sorry, or not wanting to reconcile, are they not of God or is it taking some time of healing? Or when we have asked some one to help us when we have been wronged to intervene with us as in Matthew 18, and they do not help us but let us fall by the wayside because they do not want to hold the other party accountable, then why? Why does this occur? We are to hold and help each other in our walk, so that we will grow to maturity and we should not feel awkward about it, but seek forgiveness out of love for God and one another. It is suppose to be a love/love interaction, winning others over out of love.
So when we fail to do so, hold others accountable, I asked the ladies in the Bible study that I am doing with them, "Do you think that is being sinful?"
What do you think?
I have an answer for you. But I want to hear from you.
