We’ve all profited from somebody’s excellent advice too. We were uncertain and confused, so we reached out to someone we trusted. Take for instance Proverbs 12:15 : “The way of a fool is right in his very own eyes, but a smart man is he who listens to counsel.” You and I have experienced those extraordinarily words.

We’ve been dumb, thinking we were right, and along came a parent or teacher, maybe a pal who talked some sense into our heads, thankfully.

As a consequence we profited from smart counsel. “As in water face reflects face, so the guts of man reflects man” ( Proverbs 27:19 ). You have had something deep in the well of your heart you haven’t been able to tug up. Along comes someone that loves you and has the power to drop a bucket in that deep well of yours, pull it out, then splash the contents around for both of you to see it obviously. I have to add that wise recommend is not necessarily simple to hear.

“Faithful are the injuries of a chum, but devious are the kisses of an enemy” ( Proverbs 27:6 ). The Hebrew uses an engaging verb stem here. In genuine love, your chum confronts you with the truth—you’re alone, in private, and you hear the hard thing that should be challenged. That bruise stays with you, and you are a more rounded person for it. Such bruising is far more useful and trustworthy than a false embrace, the “kiss” of a flatterer whom Solomon calls our “enemy.” Good advocate is a great thing, even if it stings to hear it, whether you’re the receiver or the giver of that counsel.