DEVOTIONAL

THE MEASURE OF A FRIEND

READ: PROVERBS 18:24

“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”

            Abraham Lincoln once said, “Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me, that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”

            A popular song once proclaimed that, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, that’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”

            These two quotes remind us that our attitude grossly affects our altitude.

How high we reach, to what honorable heights we excel, will be determined by the spirit of our heart. 

            Although no one ever rises above the level of his or her thinking, a person can rise much higher when the level is lofty instead of lowly.  If we really want to see positive change in our families, churches, and communities, then our thinking and our attitudes must begin to reflect and resemble that of Christ.  We must learn to think of others before we seek to satisfy self.  We must learn to be the type of “friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

            Who doesn’t need a friend? Though it seems that starting friendships is relatively easy, the art of cultivating them is often more difficult. But as Disciples of Christ we must seek to establish and develop meaningful friendships with others, for by doing so we perform the work of Christ.  Thus, we must be like Christ and be the kind of friend who is always interested in fostering new friendships as well as rebuilding broken ones.

Personal application

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.            (PROVERBS 22:1)

QUOTABLE

 “When we as Christians are beset by the works of an unseen foe, we are also befriended by the work of an Unseen Friend.  Great is our adversary, but greater is our Ally.” –our friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. ____ Vance Havner