Brothers

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

BROTHERS

Prov 17:17

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

NIV

At first glance we might get the impression that brothers are born for the purpose of creating adversity for their siblings, but that is not the intent here. Friends certainly are individuals whom we develop over the course of time and if we are fortunate we might have more than one, but the chance of finding a true friend who will love us both in prosperity and adversity is far and few between. Those of us who have found that devoted marriage partner have indeed found that true friend as well as a brother or sister. Brothers or sibling are born attached through blood, through DNA, and are always there, specifically in those times of adversity. There is nothing closer than family or at least that is what is meant here. Whether that is the actually case, that is up to us who have siblings. Of course this could imply those who are brothers or sisters in the Lord. That we who are the family of God should be at each other’s side through the toughest times of life, that is our purpose, which is what we were born for. But again that may not be the actually case. The friend simply loves, or has affection for us which could imply only having affection and nothing else. A friend can say or feel nice thoughts about us no matter what we are going through, but the brother has been born to be at our side when we travel those difficult roads. Let us hope we are and have brothers.