Being a friend

Proverbs 17:17 GWT says, 'A friend always loves, and a brother is born to share trouble.' And Job 2:11 NKJV reads: 'When Job's three friends heard about all the terrible things that had happened to him, each of them came from his home.' The particular Hebrew word that's used for 'friend' in Proverbs 17:17 is the same as in Job 2:11. The meaning is 'friendship, real, brotherly love'.

Job was hurting. Everything was falling apart around him. He was also covered in sores, so his buddies would have known that he was 'unclean' under Jewish law. In short, Job was a complete mess. But, despite all of that, those friends travelled cross country just to get alongside him. They sat with him for a week, in silence, to show they were there for him. We reckon that covers both the loving-at-all-times and 'adversity' bases of today's Proverb.

So the question is, how can we do the same? How can we be that sort of friend, and where can we find friends like that for ourselves? Well, love comes from God, right? So he's probably a good place to start. If we want to strengthen our friendships, the best plan is to fill them full of God, knowing that he'll equip everyone who's his to be a rock to those around them in hard times.



So what now? Arrange for a worship-and-Bible session with some friends. Start by asking what each person needs support for and pray about those things. Be a friend to a 'brother' or 'sister' in their time of trouble.





— SCRIPTURE —

'A friend always loves...a brother is born to share trouble.' Proverbs 17:17 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

Acts 14-15, Matt 4:8-17, Ps 7:1-9, Pro 11:3-6