Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Imagine someone you love and care about is walking toward a fire, and they don't see it, but you can clearly see they are entering a road that will lead to their death. You decided I love them so much that I don’t want to disappoint or hurt them in hope that they will turn around or someone else might help them. Perhaps, your warning may not change the person’s path or might cost you their friendship. Do you love them enough to take the risk?
Ultimately, the scripture is calling us higher to love God above all things by becoming a true friend and share the truth even when it hurts. There is a common statement that we often say, "I love you to death." As Christians let us love people to eternal life with God, not to their spiritual death which could lead to eternal fire. Don't withhold the truth from the people you love. Jesus throughout his ministry taught what love is. Jesus spoke the truth in love even when it threatened his life. Matthew 23:33, “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” This is one warning from Jesus' expressing his love language to the teachers of the law during his ministry. Ultimately, they murdered him not realizing their act of hate would in turn become the world's path to salvation. In our interactions with others, let us humbly and graciously not be ashamed to love people by speaking the truth according to God's love (Mark 8:38). Jesus says in John 14:15-17, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." Let us strive to openly accept Jesus’ rebuke, grace, mercy, and salvation in our lives while we genuinely share that same love with people in our lives.
