This Proverb says, “He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.” As human beings we all have faults. We are not perfect. However, we may not perceive or be aware of all of our faults. Therefore, we are not able to correct those faults as we need to do We need to be made aware of our faults so we can change.
We may not perceive our faults. However, they are usually evident to other people. Unfortunately, other people in our life are reluctant to tell us or point out our defects. They don’t want to hurt our feelings. That is where a true friend is valuable.
A true friend is one who has our best interest at heart. He or she is a person who has the courage to reveal our faults to us. A true friend will be honest and tell us what we need to fix. As this Proverb indicates, they will rebuke us and motivate us to change and correct those faults.
It is not easy to tell a friend their character flaws. However it will be far more beneficial then always flattering them. Hearing about our faults from a friend will hurt because we want to be viewed by others favorably. However, it will do us far more good than having a false perception of ourselves. In the long run we will perceive the wisdom and strength that it took to reveal our faults. We will be appreciative. More importantly we’ll be motivated to change our lives for the better.
