A Friend Loves at All Times

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

We walk alone in this world when we journey through life without a friend. More than an acquaintance, more than a common fellowship, friendships hold the heart and carry the burden of the soul far greater than all other relationships. Families are set upon the relationship of blood--friendships upon that of mutual love. And though we hope that the blood relations hold fast in friendship as well, we know that the inner core of the human need is to have that one person who is woven within the fabric of our heart. An illuminating example of this depth of friendship is seen in David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18:1 says, "As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."

The tenderness and confidence of this simple statement of our text today clarifies for us so readily the reality of true friendship. This friend, a close companion of another, is the very one who will love at all times. The affection of friendship is experienced and the duration of friendship is timeless. The phrase "at all times" is singular in its construction--it might very well read, "A friend will love in each moment." For, in truth, there are friendships that find a separation of distance and so the opportunity to love is not close at hand. But when that reunion happens or the need surmounts the chasm of miles, the same love is rekindled again into flame and burns brightly, as if no separation occurred.

And now, beloved, consider the statement from our Lord Jesus. John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." This is the highest peak, the greatest zenith of friendship--the willing sacrifice for the other. And then, consider what Jesus said next in John 15:14, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." Are you His friend? He has certainly been yours. He has laid His life down for your salvation and He invites you into the friendship of God. Psalm 25:14 states, "The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant."

This is the friendship that everyone desires to have, but let me ask you this: is this the friend that you are? Because, my friends, if we go forward in life always looking for the other person to satisfy our hearts with their friendship, we also must be willing to set ourselves aside for the sake of another. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" Be the one who is willing to help the other up.

And, finally, a brief warning for your soul. James tells us quite clearly that Christians must guard themselves against a friendship with the wrong crowd. We find this in James 4:4, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." You are yoked together with Christ, do not be yoked again with the world. Paul warns the church in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" This is not to mean that you have no commonalities with the world, or that you completely abandon your relations in the world. For you have a task of sharing the gospel with those who are in the world.

But, you must find that your deepest friendships, your closest companions on this journey are those who are following Christ with you. It is in those friendships that you will find that brother who is born for adversity.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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