A True Friend

A True Friend (Proverbs 18:24)

Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

There are different levels of friendship. This proverb distinguishes between friends. The Hebrew word (rea’) are casual acquaintances, such as work associates or neighbors, and a friend, Hebrew word (‘ahab) truly loves and is committed to you regardless of circumstances. It is possible to have a friend (a non-relative) who is more loyal and committed to you than a brother (a blood relative) I Samuel 18:1, And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” The former are mere casual acquaintances. They come and go in different seasons of life. They are enjoyable but may be unreliable. When your circumstances change, their friendship fades away. They do not care enough to make a significant sacrifice for you to protect you from danger or ruin. In most cases, they will choose their interests over yours and are even capable of betraying you. The latter friend, a true friend, cleaves to you in the deepest valleys and darkest nights. He or she would protect you from others who intended to harm you, even if it meant paying a great sacrifice to do so. This friend’s devotion spans time and distance. Whereas, life is filled with hundreds of casual companions, true friends come along all too rarely in life. Because they are so rare, we should treasure them like spouses, as precious gifts from God. Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 16:24, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

As believers, every one of us has a friend who sticks closer than a brother and His name is Jesus.
As Jesus walked along the path that led to Gethsemane and the cross, note His great declaration of friendship for each of us. John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus proved His friendship to us by freely laying down His life on Calvary’s cross. He sacrificed His life that we might live eternally, and He promised His abiding presence in our lives (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). Nothing can separate us from the presence and love of Christ (Romans 8:3-39). What a friend we have in Jesus (John 15:15; II Corinthians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:20)! Faithfulness produces reliability. Reliability is a big deal because it leads to stability and confidence. The faithful spouse produces stability in the marriage. People trade with certain businesses because their products and their customer service departments are reliable and trustworthy. That is an important issue today. People attend Bible-preaching churches because they know the preaching is going to be from the Bible and reliable in truth and application. Solomon spoke about the king that is faithful in his justice. His integrity, wisdom, and honesty in judicial matters establishes his reign with stability, confidence, and respect of people. In the area of relationships with people, those who are our friends and care about us are faithful in their concern for us.

Friendliness and encouraging other people. People that are friendly and encourage people have a greater influence in the lives of others than someone who is stuck on himself, cranky, moody, or selfish. Friends do influence friends. There is no getting around it. Moses influenced Joshua. Elijah influenced Elisha. David influenced Jonathan. Paul influenced Silas. The list is endless. A study published in the American Society Review suggests that Americans these days have fewer close friends and confidants than twenty years ago. The results suggest people maybe living lonelier, more isolated lives than they once did. In 1985, the average American had three confidants. The latest results collected in 2004, show the number had dropped to two, with one in four Americans claiming no close confidants at all. Part of the shift is a result of changing lifestyles. Most people have fewer contacts in social organizations and tend to rely on family more than neighbors or other outside contacts. A continued move to suburban areas and a tendency to spend more time at work add to the problem. Unfortunately, the rise of new technologies such as computers, IPods, and televisions allow people to stay home and tune out the rest of the world. Previous research has shown a link between social isolation and loneliness and mental and physical illness. Co-author of the latest study, Lynn Smith-Lovin from Duke University says, "Close relationships are a safety net. Whether it's picking up a child or finding someone to help you out of the city in a hurricane, these are people we depend on." If you are going to have friends and be a good influence in the lives of people, you need to reach out and be friendly. If you don't have friends, then take a good look at yourself in the mirror. You may not have friends because you are not friendly. You may also be mean, grumpy, proud, or selfish, which tends to turn people off. Being concerned about others and their needs will help you to develop friendships with them and be a blessing. This is one reason why people loved and respected Job so much. He helped so many people and had great influence in their lives.

Points to Ponder:
The faithful person is reliable.
What a friend we have in Jesus
One true friend is more valuable than several superficial friends who can cause problems.
​
Questions to Consider:
Are you reliable?
Is your word reliable?
When you tell someone you are going to do something, do you do it?
Do you show up on time?
Do you do your job?
Do you keep your promises?
Do you pay your bills on time?
How about homework?
Do you complete those school assignments or book reports on time?

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for saving my soul and for Your gift of eternal life. You used a friend and a co-worker to lead me to You. You have given me a church family who loves You and prays fervently for me. You have given me my very best friend, my wife, who stands by my side faithfully and encourages me. May I serve You faithfully, in Jesus name, AMEN.

If this post has blessed you in any way
please share this website and its articles with others:
www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com