The friend

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

THE FRIEND

Prov 27:10

10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you — better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

NIV

Friendship is a dear relationship which should not be taken lightly. It is especially true of those who would be considered a friend to the family. It seems that is a lost art in our modern day. Perhaps some of those friends of the family still exist, but it is our experience to not know of any. This would be a person who was a close friend of our father and after his passing made sure we would looked after, made sure we were doing alright and asked if they could do anything to enrich our lives. This would be the person who this proverb suggest we would go to in any time of trouble rather than a relative who have kept themselves at a distant from us, not in the physical sense, although that also might be true, but in the emotional sense. It does seem some family members are not as close, even estranged, then some true friends. But then the shoe also fits our feet. That is to say to wonder are we a close friend or a friend to the family of someone or two? That would also apply to our family. Have we withdrawn from our family in anyway? Are we a brother far away? Are we the person someone can rely upon in their time of trouble? Do we always look at the cost of helping someone, rather than simply seeing a friend in need? When we consider that we should be known, if we are not, as a Christian and that means we reflect, or are a reflection of the reputation of God. If we are self-serving rather than being that friend, what does that do to the reputation of God? This would apply to all aspects of our life. That means with our family, with our neighbor, with our friends and their family, with our place of employment, and certainly with our church family. Can we be counted on? Do we have someone in our lives who we can count on? Instead of that relative who considers themselves afar off, we should be aware of who is the friend of the family. Do we fit that bill? Do we have someone near us who fits that bill? The bond of friendship seems to mean more in this proverb than the bond of family, although family can also be friends. So who is a friend?