Proverbs 18:24 - You Cant Connect If You Dont Commit.
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. They take commitment!
I cant count the number of times my
wife Kay and I have felt like walking out of our
marriage, particularly in the early years. We often
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
when the only thing keeping us together was that
commitment - not love or interest but simply the
commitment we made to God. Im so glad 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 and making acquaintances
that you never invest the time, energy, and
effort it takes to cultivate the deep, satisfying
intimacy of a good friend or 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. So focus on quality, not quantity. Your
acquaintances - your hundreds of friends on social
media - 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/]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
Proverbs 18:24 - Types of Friends.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211228-1047.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/