Proverbs 27:5
Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
This is not a proverb that flows readily off our tongues, much less our lives. Most people would believe that "open rebuke" is not "better than love." What Solomon is telling us is that true love, if true and observant to all, will need to practice open rebuke. God gives us the truth in our lives. He loves us but He allows truth to be played out for us. If we love others but we know they are walking down a path that they should not go, we would expect love to speak up and warn them to avoid the path. Being open about rebuke is not based upon lack of love. In fact, failure to warn others ... openly rebuke them ... is a sure sign of NO love. If we care we will eventually have to rebuke. Parents who care about their kids openly rebuke them. They do so to warn them about the dangers of life. Spouses who love their spouse often openly rebukes the other to correct behavior. Open rebuke does not have to be harsh or hurting or harmful. It should be spoken in love and carry the expression of love. But, rebuke is still rebuke. Love concealed is worthless. Love that is not expressed is powerless. You can't go through life and tell others that you love them if you never work in the correction process. Those who hate conflict need to understand the power of this proverb. God is saying to us that conflict is okay if it flows from love and is done in love. Refusing to have conflict is not a way toward harmony. That is false harmony. True harmony allows our open rebuke because it is willing to express love in a meaningful way. Paul did this to Peter:
Galatians 2:11-14
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Paul, later in the same letter, gives us an outline on how to do this work:
Galatians 6:1-2
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We are to "rebuke" by carrying our brother's burden (the wrong you see in them that needs correcting) to fulfill the "law of Christ" (which is to love). Rebuke is to be done in complete love and for the purpose of restoration.
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