Toy Stories: Ken — Responsible vs. Passive - Tuesday
Today’s Verse
Proverbs 27:5-6a
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; (ESV)
I’ve always been a DIY type of person. I’m not sure if it stems from being too cheap not wanting to pay someone else or if I just enjoy the process of learning new things buying new tools. Either way, I’ve spent a lot of time working on things around the house. Early on in our marriage, my wife only saw the good things about my work. If I laid tile in the bathroom, she saw a beautiful tile floor, not the uneven grout lines. If I installed new baseboards, she saw brand new molding, not the rough-cut lines. I loved her for it, but it also gave me a false sense of how good I was (or more likely, how quickly I rushed through some of the jobs).
I’m not sure if it’s because we’ve been married for 24 years or if she’s just started noticing the little things, but she notices the little things now. If there’s a spot that needs more paint, she lets me know. If I get a job 95% of the way done, she reminds me of the 5% that’s left. And I’m better for it. I’m not always thankful in the moment, but I know deep down she tells me what I need to hear. And because of this, I have become much better.
I used to think that being kind to my friends and family meant only encouraging. I would refrain from correcting or rebuking. I told myself it’s because I didn’t want to appear judgmental. In reality, I was just being a coward. I didn’t want to have those hard conversations. That’s the textbook definition of passivity. Because I wanted my day to be a little easier, I would allow my friends to continue down a dangerous and sometimes spiritually fatal path.
Although this first part of the series we are in is pointed towards men, this is a lesson for all of us. If someone you love has done something wrong or is headed down a dangerous path, the most loving and kind thing you can do is tell them. Yes, be respectful and loving in the way you say it, but don’t run away from saying it. I can’t promise they will always thank you. But I can promise that there’s nothing more loving to do for them.
APPLICATION
Am I more concerned with keeping things comfortable, or with helping those I love grow closer to God?
Who in my life needs loving correction right now, and what’s holding me back from saying it?
PRAYER
Ask God to show you where someone in your life needs correction. Then take the step to have that hard conversation. Commit to praying for them both before and after you talk.