Hi everyone,
Wanted to share a devotional with you from Proverbs 28:23 – Speak Up
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
Thinking about our Canadian culture, it is so easy to be caught up into being nice. Confrontation seems to be in conflict to being nice because we may need to say things the other person does not want to hear. By confrontation, I do not mean going around and stepping on people, but to wanting to build them up in love. It’s not easy to confront others and rebuke them. It’s difficult because it can cause conflict and tension in our relationships especially when the person does not want to listen. It also requires time and commitment which can be challenging for many. On top of that, courage is needed for any confrontation. It is because confrontation is so difficult, many shy away from doing so because simply put, it’s easier to just walk away.
However, this passage reminds us that we do need to speak up. We need to say things they need to hear and not only what they want to hear. Even if it does not seem to be having any effect at the moment, in the end the person will know that we do care for them and gain their favor. They may not take it well at first, but with time as they think and meditate on the matter, they may finally come to understand why the rebuke was needed. Hopefully after realizing, they will change their ways and in turn appreciate what you have done. However, if we simply continue to only say things they want to hear, it will do them no good in the long run. A flattering tongue builds nobody up. True friends speak up. We need true friends in our own lives to rebuke us when we’re being led astray. In the same way, let us also be a true friend to others, loving and caring for them, that we will speak up when it is needed and say things they really need to hear. May God use us to speak truth to others so that they may continue to grow and to mature in life.
Blessings,
Kelsey