40 Days of Encouragement

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 37 | THE VALUE OF A FRIEND
THE VALUE OF A FRIEND

Proverbs 17:17
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."


One thing we all have in common is adversity.  Adversity may come in different forms and may be worse for one person than the other, but since this world is sinful, broken, and under the control of our enemy – Satan – you and I can expect adversity (until we go to heaven).  Peter wrote: "Be on the alert, your adversary, the devil, roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”  (1 Peter 5:8)

Today’s verse from Proverbs, written by King Solomon (the "wise guy"), is sharing wisdom with his son (and by extension us too) about the VALUE of having a GOOD friend (or even several).

Quick quiz – WHO would you say – aside from a spouse – is your best friend today?

What are you doing to nurture that friendship?

You see, guys need at least one good, close guy friend, and gals need the same with a gal friend.  Life was not meant to be lived as a hermit but with friends and family.  That's how God made us.  So, if you have GOOD family and friend relationships, you are blessed! You might even have couple-friends that fill that role… that's good too.

Friendships – like gardens – need to be attended to if you want the friendship to stay healthy and strong. And today's verse teaches us that good friends can be invaluable, especially in times of trouble or adversity.  And they are FUN in non-troubled times too!
 
Prayer: LORD, I am thankful for the people you have put in my life.  Please help me to develop those relationships positively as you lead.  And help us to find ways to encourage each other.  Amen