Sermon Central
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Rebuke And The Goodness Of A Wise Friend
Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Jun 11, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: Often, we assume that a good friend is someone who always supports, defends, helps, and follows our every wish. However, it is important to remember that not all kindness leads to true goodness in our lives.
Rebuke and the Goodness of a Wise Friend
Often, we assume that a good friend is someone who always supports, defends, helps, and follows our every wish. However, it is important to remember that not all kindness leads to true goodness in our lives. Sometimes, a friend who always says “yes” to everything we do can actually lead us into mistakes.
True goodness is the courage to rebuke, to remind, to say “no,” and to uphold the truth, even if it feels uncomfortable. On the surface, it may seem harsh, but it must be done for the sake of goodness. A friend like this might not be popular—they may be disliked or even ostracized—but look again at their motivation, which is for your good.
A true friend is not someone who always indulges us or lets us walk down the wrong path. They are willing to say “no” when we are wrong and are prepared to risk the friendship for our well-being. Kindness without truth can become a trap that leads us astray.
Let’s look at a few Bible verses:
Proverbs 27:6
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Proverbs 13:20
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Reflection
Let us learn to accept true goodness, not just the kind that pleases our hearts. A good friend brings us closer to truth and God’s will, not just to comfort and happiness. Do not be afraid to rebuke your friend or to be rebuked for the sake of goodness, for this is the mark of true love. Do not be afraid to lose a friend who is always willing to lead you into sin. Instead, let your friend receive a valuable lesson so that they may repent and return to God’s will, even if it means you may lose a friend.
May this reflection strengthen and help us to become true friends, and also to choose friends who lead us to true goodness according to God’s Word.
Remember: A true friend is someone who always corrects your mistakes, not someone who justifies them.
Medio, June 11, 2025
Cornerstone San Francisco
