Telling The Hard Truth

REFERENCE: Proverbs 29:5 To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.

Observation: We might feel like the best things we can do for a friend is to tell them a half truth just to make them feel better. Perhaps a season or two of the first few weeks of American Idol should persuade us differently. It is obvious that some of those who try out would be much better off have truthful friends. Those who told them; “You have a great voice. You could win the whole thing!” They were certainly setting a very embarrassing trap for them--and on national TV.

For all of us, we need to be careful to tell our friends the truth. Do it in love but tell the truth. Otherwise they may take our comments and make decisions that will be bad for them. We can save them from it.

Application/Confession: I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but I do want to save them from a poor career or relationship choice that they may make just because I am too scared to let them know where they may be weak. I can do more harm than good by my flattery.

PRAYER: Teach me Lord, to be a blessing in my friend’s lives. Even when it involves telling the hard truth.