Support with the Truth

I do not endorse or support what others do and say merely to "encourage them" as so many think is needed today.

Encouraging someone depends entirely on truth. If we encourage someone who is saying and doing wrong things that are against the Word of God just to make them feel good about themselves then we have supported untruth and encouraged someone in the wrong path for feelings sake and not for the sake of truth.

If someone can be discouraged by correction then they are very weak and self-absorbed. Correction when received with a humble and glad heart will strengthen the one who is being trained in righteousness.

If someone is so easily offended or discouraged by a correction then they need to confess their sin of self focus and begin trusting in Christ to move forward in holiness.

Proverbs 12:1

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."

Perhaps those who fear correcting others honestly are worried more about others approving of them than they are about truth. Do we love others too much to allow them to believe error and then spread it to others who are unsuspecting?

When we consider that Christ is first in all things it is agonizing for us to hear things that displease Him. Because we love people more than ourselves and Christ more than people, we will be the most concerned about pleasing Jesus Christ Who lives in us while helping others to grow too.

Proverbs 15:32

Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."