“Honesty
is the best policy.” Have you heard that
phrase before? Real friends and
confident people appreciate honesty. I
appreciate honesty as well, but some of those conversations aren’t easy. It is hard to hear what some people need to
share.
I’d
like to talk to you about what it ought to be like to share the truth with
people you care about even when the truth is hard to say or hard to hear.
As iron
sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens
a friend.
We are
called to make each other better. As we
care about the people in our lives we will want to make them better by sharing
truth, but often it is really like iron sharpening iron. It is rough, grinding, difficult but
important.
Ephesians 4:32 NLT
Instead, be kind
to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Kindness
goes a long way. When people know you
care, they are more apt to hear what you have to say. Our words have to bring healing to those we
share them with. Words can be seasoned
with grace and kindness and still be totally honest.
Ephesians 4:15 NLT
Instead, we will speak the truth in love,
growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body,
the church.
Before
you speak or share with another person make sure that your motive it
right. If those words aren’t intended to
bring life and strength, maybe they should not be shared. It is possible to speak difficult words and
have them covered in love.
This makes for harmony among the members, so that all
the members care for each other.
When
we care about people, we will want to make a difference in their lives. To not share truth is really not to love like
Jesus did. He spoke the truth to those
who He came in contact with and made sure that the person heard and saw the
love of God spelled out. Often His words
were not easy to hear.
From
time to time I have to have painful conversations that are very tough. The people who really care about me will do
all they can to encourage me even by sharing the things that I don’t want to
hear but need to hear. The people that I
really care about need me to be honest with them. Stop sweeping things under the proverbial rug
and deal with situations and life so that each of us gets stronger and better.
Painful
conversations point to the fact that God taught us about love and that we care
about people God brings our way. Don’t
miss what God is calling you to do.
Don’t let the people around you miss the best that God has for them.
Hebrews 12:15 NLT
Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness
grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Comments