DON’T HIDE YOUR LOVE
PROVERBS 27:5 NKJ
PROVERBS 27:5 NKJ
5 Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.
OBSERVATION:
I doubt this proverb has made it to many refrigerator magnets. It's just not a verse with a great amount of surface appeal. At face value, this proverb appears to be a contradiction. Why would an open rebuke ever be better than love that is concealed?
Here is a short answer. An open rebuke can ultimately help someone. But love that is never expressed or acted upon will not be of much good.
In the book of Galatians, Paul rebukes Peter regarding his treatment of Gentile believers. I am sure Peter did not enjoy the rebuke, but the correction Paul delivered was an aid to Peter and the early church.
An open rebuke, done the right way, can produce good results. All rebukes are not evil. A rebuke is an expression of disapproval regarding an action or behavior. A rebuke, though we moved away from that usage, is a big part of parenting. We are not limited to affirmations only. There needs to be a level of correction. I would encourage parents to be sensitive to public rebuking of children. Unless the situation warrants, most rebukes can be handled privately. It will still be open to the child who is on the receiving end.
But if love is never acted upon, there will be no good results. For God so loved the world He gave His Son. Love has an action to it. Love gives. And love gives what is best for the other person even if what is best is a rebuke.
Paul was not trying to hurt Peter; he was trying to help the Gentile believers.
Please do not take this verse as a license to correct, rebuke, and express your disapproval to everyone in your life. If anything, we should all take this proverb as a license to express and act upon the love we have in our hearts.
PRAYER:
Help me, Lord, to express my love for others. This will help them and honor You. I purpose not to hide my love.