Yesterday's chapter in Proverbs had several verses that talked about fools. Today's chapter has several verses that talk about friends and how they help make you a better person (and I think you can logically conclude keep you from being a "fool").
5 Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
17 Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
We all need friends in our lives who we will allow to be totally honest with us and tell us when we are messing up our lives. To have that kind of friend you have to
be that kind of friend. You must be able to tell your friend the truth when he needs correction. I suppose we all would prefer a kind and gentle correction, but if correcting with kindness doesn't work we sometimes have to be more forceful. (look again at vs. 5-6)
If you don't have an iron sharpening iron relationship with anyone, let me encourage you to pray and ask God to send someone your way (and don't forget that you must be willing to be that kind of friend yourself.)
