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Proverbs 18:24 - Types of Friends.

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) A man of many 
companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who 
sticks closer than a brother. 

Proverbs 18:24 (NLT) There are friends 
who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks 
closer than a brother. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Good relationships dont happen by 
accident. They take cultivation, work, and a lot of 
time. That requires commitment! 
   I cannot count the number of times that 
my wife Kay and I have felt like walking out of 
our marriage, particularly in the early years. 
There were so many times we thought, This is 
not worth it. Were so different. This 
marriage will never work. 
   But we didnt walk out. Why? Because 
wed made a commitment. We took a vow - Till 
death do us part - not just to each other but 
also to God. So we said, Were going to keep 
this commitment even if it kills us. And it 
nearly did! There have been times in our marriage 
that the only thing keeping us together was that 
commitment - not love or interest but simply the 
commitment we made to God. I am so glad that we did not 
give up. Today, my wife is my best friend, and I 
cannot imagine my life without her. 
   The Bible says in Proverbs 18:24, A 
man of many companions may come to ruin, but 
there is a friend who sticks closer than a 
brother (ESV). 
   Did you know that your socializing can 
keep you from having deep relationships? You can 
be so busy networking, contacting, and making 
acquaintances that you never invest the time and energy 
and effort it takes to cultivate the deep, 
satisfying intimacy of a good friend or a good spouse. 
   Its not wrong to have a lot of 
acquaintances, but they can keep you so busy that you 
dont develop any vital, close relationships. You 
dont need a lot of friends to make it in this 
world, but you do need a few good ones. Focus on 
quality, not quantity. Your acquaintances - your 
hundreds of Facebook friends and Instagram 
followers - arent necessarily going to be there 
when you need them. But the friends you are truly 
connected and committed to will be there. 
   Every important, close connection begins 
with a commitment. If you want to get beyond 
shallow, superficial relationships, youve got to 
be willing to stick with it. [Daily Devotional 
by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

ILLUSTRATION

   The crab spider is an unusual arachnid. 
It doesn't rely on a web to catch prey. 
Instead, it hides in a flower and waits for a 
honeybee, beetle, or butterfly to come by searching 
for nectar. Then it pounces, grabbing the insect 
with its forelegs and biting it. A powerful venom 
does the rest. 
   But insects don't make up all of its 
diet. The males of some species of crab spiders 
also sip on nectar and eat pollen. Think about 
that. Both the crab spider and the honeybee drink 
the same nectar. The honeybee makes honey. The 
crab spider makes poison.  
   The same is true of people. We all 
breathe air and drink water. We have some of the 
same experiences, but what we do with them, or 
what we "produce," can be dramatically 
different. 
   Some people are eager to gain wisdom. 
They apply what they learn to their everyday 
lives, including their relationships. When they see 
others going through difficult times, they offer 
practical help. They pray, send notes of support, 
visit, and share the struggle. They are careful 
with their words, speaking truth and 
encouragement. Like the bee, these people produce honey. 
   And then there are others who think they 
already know everything they need to know. They 
don't bother seeking God's wisdom. They are 
consumed with their own desires, and they don't 
really care what happens to anyone else. Sometimes 
they initiate conversation and seem friendly, but 
they're really gleaning tidbits of gossip to spread 
around and things to criticize - all in all causing 
immeasurable harm. These "crab spiders" produce poison. 
   You find honeybees and crab spiders in 
school, in the office, in church. 
   My mother gave me sound advice about 
making friends: Take time to observe the behavior 
of others before building friendships. 
Sometimes the people who greet you first are not the 
ones who will make the most trustworthy friends. 
Be polite, but watch carefully how people treat 
one another before establishing a friendship. 
Avoid the so-called friends who destroy each 
other, as Proverbs 18:24 says, and seek a true 
friend who will stick closer than a brother. 
   Avoid the crab spiders. Seek out the 
honeybees. 
   Lord God, please guard my heart and my 
tongue and help me to bring good things to others 
with my words and actions. Give me wisdom, too, 
as I try to find friends who will build me up 
and bring me closer to You. Thank You for the 
gift of friendship. [Earth Psalms by Francine 
Rivers] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Proverbs 17:17 - What Is A Friend? 
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190731-1131.html 

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  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657