Proverbs - What is a friend?

Proverbs 17:17

                                                                     

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

This world has cheapened friendship.  It is portrayed as mere companionship meant to enjoy the frivolities of life and is to stay distant enough not to meddle or get involved.  It is the lighthearted relationships defined by a mutual interest or hobby that provides social connections and laughter.  The Lord has quite a different definition and function for friendships as He sees it.  If we are a true friend we step up conspicuously during times of adversity and make the burdens others are carrying our concern.  We should seek how we may help bear these burdens and desire to be a vessel of the Lord’s loved and assistance in the person’s life. 

Yes, friendship can be fun and lighthearted but the true strength of the relationship is found in times of trouble.  We need to love at ALL times.  The friendships the Lord would want us to enjoy should step up to being a sibling of the one we love.  We have history and we anticipate a future with them.  We trust that we have been placed into people’s lives by a sovereign God who desires to use us to help and support them. 

Our prayer lists should involve adversities that our friends are going through and we should seek to hear from the Lord any sort of scripture or insight we can give them.  Our worlds should not be self defined but include the burdens and seasons our friends are in.  When we do this we fulfill the law of Christ and have the same care one for another.  This shows the world that we are His disciples by our love for one another.