Proverbs 17:17 - What Is A Friend?
Proverbs 17:17 (KJV) A friend loveth at all
times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 (CWR) A real friend loves you
no matter what happens. What are brothers for
if they cant stick together in hard times?
COMMENTARY PEARL
Last night, I dreamed about a close
friend I knew as a teenager, someone I haven't seen
for decades. For many years, we lost touch with
each other, but both of us kept searching. At
last, we made contact through social media. I had
my dear companion back!
We live thousands of miles apart. The
chances of us meeting again are very low, but we
both daydream about it. Yet if I have to wait
until heaven for one of her hugs, I can. It'll be
worth it. For now, I'm happy with our steady
interactions, both online and during phone conversations.
I occasionally attended church as a
child, but didn't give my life to Jesus until my
twenties. After I made that commitment, I could see
how much His presence had been missed in my
young life. How could I miss someone I barely
knew? Yet I did. I needed Him - always had - more
than I realized. Like the reunion with my
long-lost bestie, this was a reunion with my Maker,
and it was at this point when Jesus's tenderness
poured into me like oxygen as I lay gasping. He
brought me to abundant life.
Christ and I stay in touch day and night,
through prayer, Bible study, and the countless
blessings He shares with me. When I'm down, He lifts
my spirits, and He builds me up when my
strength is flagging. Sometimes, I can almost feel
His hug, as real as any other loved one's.
My dream of an actual embrace from Jesus
will come true the day He'll wrap both arms
around me, welcoming me to heaven. For now, His
magnificent love is enough. by Heidi Gaul
Faith Step: Look up someone you've fallen
out of contact with. Get in touch via computer
or phone. Pick up where you left off and start
blessing each other in friendship again. [Mornings
With Jesus 2019 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
INTRODUCTION
Friends. Friendship has its risks (v.
19), but the isolated person is not wise (v. 1).
We belong to each other, and we need each other
(v. 14). We may have many acquaintances, but we
have few real friends. The person with too many
friends may end up in trouble (v. 24 margin). Be a
true friend and God will give you true friends
who will stick close to you throughout life.
Fools. Fools do not make good friends for
many reasons. For one thing, they like to talk so
much that they do not hear what others say (v.
2). Their foolish words cause fights (vv. 6-7)
and inward pain (v. 8). Their impatience to
speak makes them jump to conclusions (vv. 13, 17),
and that creates problems (v. 5). The only hope
for fools is that they will stop talking and
start to listen to wisdom (v. 15). [Chapter by
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Pro.
18]
COMMENTARY
TRUE FRIENDS
A real friend can be trusted (Prov. 11:13;
17:9) and will stay with you when you are in
trouble (Prov. 17:17; 25:19). Friends love you too
much to pamper you (Prov. 27:6, 17), and their
counsel helps you (Prov. 27:9). A real friend is
good for generations (Prov. 27:10)! Some people
do not make good friends: those who tempt you
to sin (Prov. 1:10ff.); gluttons (Prov. 28:7);
drunkards (Prov. 23:20-21); gossips (Prov. 20:19); the
violent and angry (Prov. 16:29; 22:24-25); and
flatterers (Prov. 27:14). Your best friends are those
who have Jesus Christ as their Friend and seek
to be like Him (John 15:12-15). [Chapter by
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Pro.
18]
In our personal relationships, how many do
we name as "friend?" Always the Scripture goes
right to the heart of a matter. There are no
shades of gray. A friend loves all the time. A
friend loves even when inconvenient; even when an
appointment has been missed; even in the midst of a
misunderstanding; and sometimes loves in ways that seem harsh.
By this simple statement we are instructed that
a friend is not just a friend in good and easy
times. A true friend is the one who stands with
you "at all times...." To be a friend takes
stamina, interest, effort and above all, a right
relationship to Jesus. Because if your friend has a
right relationship to Jesus, then your friend will
always have God's glory and your best at heart.
That person can never be a friend who loves you
at all times, unless they have the love of
Jesus within them. As you choose to be this kind
of friend, the world will take note. Be
prepared to tell them of the power behind your
friendship. [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
SMALL GROUP FRIENDS
In order to change and get healthy, we
all need at least one friend to whom we can tell
the truth. A small group of friends is even
better. These are the people with whom we go beyond,
"I'm fine" and "Life's great." They are the ones
we can trust to hear our struggles. These are
the ones the proverb speaks of: "A friend loves
at all times, and a brother is born for a time
of adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).
We all struggle. God wants to meet you in
the struggle. One of the ways he will do that is
through a few trusted people who have demonstrated
that they can handle the truth about you. Your
areas of difficulty, the things you most want to
hide from everyone else, are exactly what you
most need to talk about with a trusted friend.
Who is one person you can tell the truth to?
What is the truth you need to tell?
Life really is better together - for a
cord of three strands (you, a close friend, and
God) is not easily broken. [The Daniel Plan
365-Day Devotional re Eph. 4:25]
There are 365 days in a year, in the
course of which we go through good times and bad
times. There may be crises - big and small - and
days when we just feel stressed out or blue.
That's why it's essential for each of us to form an
accountability team. We all need other people to hold us up
when we're hurting, people who will love us
through hard times.
So ... what is an accountability team?
These are just other followers of Christ who agree
to spend time with us. They are people who will
be there for us and call us on our junk when we
need a voice of reason. Those on our
accountability team should be the same gender. We exchange
contact information with these important people so
we can text or talk on the phone or meet for
coffee. When the chips are down, these are important
relationships designed to keep us safe and tightly bonded
to God and his people.
Satan would like nothing more than to
isolate us and then begin to mess with our heads.
It's important to have someone to call, someone
who can deliver a word of encouragement, pray
with us, and most of all, remind us that we are
not alone, that there is power in numbers.
Heavenly Father, show me the people I
should approach about becoming members of my
accountability team. I look forward to growing strong in
the midst of those important relationships. In
Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily
Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
SPECIAL MARITAL FRIEND
A friend is someone you are comfortable
with, someone whose company you prefer. A friend
is someone you can count on ....
A friend is one who believes in
you"someone with whom you can share your dreams. In
fact, a real friend is a person you want to share
all of life with"and the sharing doubles the
fun.
When you are hurting and you can share
your struggles with a friend, it eases the pain.
A friend offers you safety and trust ....
A friend will laugh with you, but not at
you"a friend is fun.
A friend will pray with you"and for you.
My friend is someone with whom I can
share my ideas and philosophies, someone with whom
I can grow intellectually....
My friend is one who hears my cry of
pain, who senses my struggle, who shares my lows
as well as my highs.
My friend does not always say I am right,
because sometimes I am not. .
My lover, my friend"this is what a
marriage partner should be. "Colleen Evans [God's
Little Devotional Bible]
THE ULTIMATE FRIEND
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100503-2213.html
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
http://www.abible.com/devotions/All/text.php
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
