Proverbs 27
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips... Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy... Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another... As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man... The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, and each is tested by the praise accorded him" (verses 2, 6, 17, 19, and 21).
We were not meant to live life alone. In the beginning God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;" (Genesis 1.27b). We have been created in the image of a communal and relational God. We were not meant to do life by ourselves, and so God made Church, the Church, the body of believers, to live life together.
In order to live together in harmony, humility is essential. And so we are told to let another praise you, don't boast about yourself. Let others talk of your accomplishments and what you have done. It is our job to talk about what God has done, and to build up others. We have been given new life in Christ so that we can point others to God, not draw them to ourselves; this is the same way Jesus lived. And so don't spend your time and words trying to win praise and glory for yourself, give it to God. Let others tell of your good deeds, and when they do, in turn give praise to God.
And along with this, it is crucial that we build others up. As others tell of our good deeds, let us tell of theirs. We must constantly share how God is at work in and through the members of the body. We must constantly testify and encourage each other.
As we live life together with others we will get close to people. We will develop strong bonds of friendship, and it is in these relationships that truth needs to be spoken. Sometimes the truth will hurt, but when it comes from a true friend we can know it is spoken in love for our benefit and gain. The words spoken from a friend are meant to make us better and more like Christ. But the kisses of the enemy are deceptive. They are meant to make us stagnant and complacent. They try to convince us that we are good enough just as we are so that we begin to stand still. And as John Wesley once said, "There is no standing still in the Christian walk. You are either pressing forward or sliding back."
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." We are meant to push each other on. We are meant to challenge each other to grow. And we are meant to walk side by side and help each other along the way.
Our hearts reflect who we are. Our motives and desires reflect who we are living for. And this is shown in the words spoken of us. What is said of you?
"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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