◄ What Does Proverbs 18:24 Mean? ►

A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24(HCSB)

Verse of the Day

Depending on the Bible translation, we discover: "A man who has friends must himself be friendly," and: "A man with too many friends will come to ruin." Both are true in their own right.

In the former, we are instructed that in order to have friends, we need to show friendship towards other people, while in the latter, we are informed that having a lot of 'fair-weather friends' can make us vulnerable, because their loyalty towards us may fluctuate with feelings or change with circumstances. We would be wise to heed the sound advice contained in each of these translations of this text of Scripture, and apply them to our own lives and the friendship choices we make.

But all translations agree: "There is a friend that sticks closer that a brother," there is a friend who displays such loyalty towards us that no matter what we say or do they will remain loyal to us. They will support and encourage us, help and counsel us, comfort and warn us, and they will love us no matter what happens.

Such friends are rare indeed, but even the sting of death can remove such a good and loyal friend from our lives in a split second of time. But whether we are graced with a loyal friend or not, every believer in Christ can state with certainty that JESUS is a friend that sticks closer that a brother.

He is the Companion Who will never leave us nor forsake us. He is the Comforter that will always be there in those times of deep sadness. He is the One who will always support and encourage us, help and counsel us, comfort and warn us - and He is the One Whose unconditional love will be poured out upon us without measure, through time and into eternity.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, how I praise and glorify Your name, that the Lord Jesus is my best and perfect friend. Thank You that in Him, I live, and move, and have my being. May I live and work to Your praise and glory, in the power of the Holy Spirit, through time and into eternity. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.