A Time for Ouch

(Pro 3:3 KJV)  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

“Mercy” (kindness NASB) (2617a) [chesed] and “truth” (571) go together in a way that might not occur to us at first reading.  We usually associate kindness with going easy on someone.  We make allowances for their weaknesses and ignorance.  We hope to win them with kindness.  I am sure there is a place for that but the opposite is also true.  Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for someone is tell the the clear, unvarnished truth.  It can be painful.  It can cause rejection.  It is still necessary.

This is why “lovingkindness” is the best translation for this word.  It is better than mercy or simple kindness.  It points out that our mercy must be tempered by a love that sees eternity and realizes how close it is.

So?  Seek to know which kind of truth you need to give.  It can be a hard choice.  Ask yourself if you will be sorry how you decided.  Always be praying for guidance.