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
