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King Solomon was a very wise, man. When he spoke, people
sat up and listened. They didn't always do as he said, but at
least they had been advised, or shall we say, exposed. In
Proverbs chapter 17 and verse 17, Solomon talks about friends. He
says, "A friend loveth at all times." Don't miss the word
"ALL". My guess is that you, like myself, have had friends but
when things went sour they went elsewhere. You couldn't
find them for the dust they left behind. The prodigal son had
the very same experience, for we read that he "wasted his
substance with riotous living", that is, he spent all his money
on his friends. The next thing we read is that "he would fain have
filled his belly with husks that the swine did eat." (Luke 15).
Why on earth would a good Jewish boy eat with the pigs, of
all animals? Because, the Bible tells us, "no man gave unto
him." In other words, he had no friends and he had no food. He
had good friends when he had a full wallet, but he had no
friends when it was flat. Come to think of it, I have had friends
like that—when things were going well, they hung with me;
when I was flat on my back, you couldn't see them, not
because I was down and out, but they had disappeared with
my last dollar. Someone has put it this way:
"When troubles come your soul to try,/ You love a friend
who just stands by;/ Perhaps there's nothing he can do,/
The thing is strictly up to you;/ For there are troubles all
your own,/And paths the soul must tread alone,/Bad
times when love can't smooth the road,/Nor friendship lift
the heavy load./ But just to feel you have a friend,/Who
will stand by until the end,/ Whose sympathy through
all endures,/Whose warm handclasp is always yours,/
It helps somehow to pull you through,/Although there's
nothing he can do./And so with fervent heart we cry:/
'God bless the friend who just stands by.'"
Which makes me ask, how faithful a friend am I to those
who count on me? It can work both ways, you know. So I pray
for myself, first of all, that I will be loyal and true to anyone who
trusts me. And if I do that, chances are they will return the
favor. Jesus is that kind of a friend to me, one who sticks
closer than a brother. As a matter-of-fact, Jesus wants to
be your friend. Ask Him into your heart, confess your sins
to Him, ask Him to forgive your sins. Then, thank Him and live
for Him the best you can. He's my Friend, I pray that you will
take Him too.