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Proverbs 27 is about dealing with people; whether family, friends, or whoever. You might say
it’s about loving our neighbours.

All throughout the Bible we are given the gift of loving our neighbours as ourselves; 7 of the 10
Commandments actually focus on that very thing. Loving our neighbour is a gift, but it’s hard.
And some neighbours make it harder than others too! Proverbs 27 can help.

Here are some examples...

Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth”. This verse is
encouraging people not to be prideful and boast about themselves, but instead let other
people be the ones to say kind things about you. Now think about it: on the flip side, this
means you will be the person who gives that “praise”, that encouragement, to somebody else.
The 8th Commandment says, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor”, or in
other words, you shouldn’t lie about your neighbour. What better way to not lie about your
neighbour than to always find ways to encourage them or speak well of them to other people?

Proverbs 27:17 is another popular verse. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens
another.” It’s similar to verses 5 and 6: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a
friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses”. Or look at verse 9: “Perfume and
incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt
advice”. The common thread through these verses is humility, and listening to the wisdom of
our friends.

Sometimes (maybe often times), we need an outside perspective on things, but we can be too
prideful or cocky to receive good advice from people. In every area of life, there are people who

see things that we can’t see, or that we would miss! Do you tend to get offended, or defensive,
when somebody offers you good advice? I certainly do.

Iron gets sharpened by iron when they scrape against each other — that is — when there is
friction. Friction doesn’t feel nice; it can really suck. But that friction might be “open rebuke”
instead of “hidden love”. It might be somebody speaking truth that we need to hear. It might be
“wounds from a friend”, when we feel hurt by something that we needed to hear, even though
it sucks to hear it.

But remember, “pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice”. It is a gift from
God, freely given to you, to have friends, or mentors, or whoever, who love us enough to give
us the help we need.

And if you’re like me — too prideful, offended, or defensive when people try to help you; or in
other words, if you’re sinful — remember this: Jesus wasn’t sinful, and He lived, died, and rose
again for you. You will fail to love your neighbour as yourself. You will fail to accept help or
good advice from people. But because of what Jesus has done — because of the Gospel that
we believe — you are forgiven, redeemed, and made new.

Cling to that truth. Cling to Jesus. And remember all of the help and wisdom God gives you in
His Word.