Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend
Each month Mike Hampshire, Chairman of the Deacons, sends me a copy of the newsletter he sends to all the Deacons. I found October’s letter so encouraging that I asked him if I could share it here (he said yes).
I remember sitting across from Seth, a friend and fellow believer, at a coffee shop in Louisville several years ago. I started the conversation off by complaining about this and that and everything in between. Seth listened patiently for a few minutes, but then he interrupted and did something very brave, something I now consider to be an act of love. He rebuked me. He told me, “You know, Mike, you complain a lot.” He then encouraged me to take notice of all the blessings around me. Ouch! It hurt, but he was right. Philippians 2:14-15 says to “do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world” (CSB).
Seth did me a favor. Until then, I hadn’t realized I was a grumbler, but his rebuke made me aware of a blind spot in my character. I now know to work on it—with God’s help, of course. King Solomon was indeed correct when he said “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6). Instead of tearing down (e.g. complaining), we can use our tongues—our words—to build up, encourage, worship, pray, and, yes, even to rebuke (2 Timothy 4:2).
James, the brother of Jesus, warned about the tongue. Though a very small organ in the body, it wields tremendous power. In James 3:4, he compared the tongue to a rudder on a great ship. Though the ship is driven by fierce winds, the pilot guides the vessel with a very small rudder. So it is with our tongues. Let us use our words—even this week—to do something great for God and Valley View Church.
Thank you Mike for those encouraging words. And thank you Troy for sharing from the Book of Luke this past Sunday while I was away with Julie celebrating our 25th anniversary. We’re looking forward to being back with you this Sunday as we turn to chapter three of 1 Peter. See you soon!
Photo by Liza Summer