Sunday, April 18, 2010

Praise and Reproof

Once a year we have employee evaluations. When I talk to our employees I identify for them what I think their strong points are and what areas they need to improve on. The strongest asset we have at Tejas Veterinary Clinic is our employees, so we strive to make them better so our business can be better.

The business of the Lord’s church is to make its people better. The church is a self policing organization that builds its members through encouragement and admonishment. Much like a business we encourage each other by identifying strong points and areas that need improvement. It is a mutual responsibility that members have for each other. It is not the exclusive domain of some super class of Christians.

Consider these proverbs…

27:5-6. “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy”.

28:23. “He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue”.

25:11-12. “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear”.

12:1. “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid”.

If a congregation is ever going to have an impact in the community it’s members have to live sin free lives of service. Praise and rebuke are the tools to achieve this. Don’t neglect them.

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