A TRUE FRIEND
PROVERBS 17:17
INTRODUCTION:
WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN THE WORD"FRIEND" IS USED SO LOOSELY, OFTEN AS A TERM OF MERE POLITENESS. WE MUST DISENTANGLE IT FROM FRIVOLOUS ASSOCIATIONS. THE ESSENTIAL NOTE OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS UNCHANGING AFFECTION. THE FRIEND "LOVETH AT ALL TIMES THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE OR SHE IS ALWAYS DISPLAYING THEIR AFFECTION. EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION IS NO PROFF OF SINCERITY. "STILL WATERS RUN DEEP". NEITHER ARE WE TO SUPPOSE THAT THE AFFECTION MUST BE SHOWN IN THE SAME WAY. THE MANIFESTATION OF IT MUST VARY ACCORDING TO THE MOODS AND FEELINGS OF THE FRIEND, AND ASLO ACCORDING TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND BEHAVIOR OF THE OBJECT OF AFFECTION. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN FRIENDSHIP MUST BE ANGRY, WHEN LOVE MUST FROWN. STILL THE LOVE MUST REMAIN.
THE TEXT :"A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES".
(1)TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS INDEPENDENT OF TIME. IT DOES NOT WEAR OUT WITH YEARS.
(2)IT IS INDEPENDENT OF CIRCUMSTANCES. IT SURVIVES THE LOSS OF SOCIAL DELIGHTS. IT HOLD ON THROUGH POVERTY.
(3)IT IS NOT SHAKEN BY SLANDER.
(4)IT OUT LIVES UNWORTHY TREATMENT.
THE GREAT TEST OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS ADVERSITY. IF IT WILL NOT SERVE THEN IT IS OF LITTLE USE
WE WANT FRIENDS THAT WE CAN GO TO IN HOUR OF NEED. THE FRIEND OF PROSPEROUS DAYS BECOME THE BROTHER IN DAYS OF TROUBLE. THE SECRET OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS LOVE. LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH AND LOVE CAN SURVIVE THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS. IT WILL ENDURE THROUGH TIME AND CHANGE, AND IN SPITE OF VIOLENT STRAINS UPON ITS STRENGTH.
THE MAN OR WOMAN TO WHOM GOD GIVES LIFE LONG FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIP IS RICH IN A TREASURE WHICH WEALTH CANNOT BUY.
VERSE 9:SILENCE MAY SAVE IT SPEECH CAN AND WILL SEPARATE IT. THERE ARE WAYS TO DESTROY.
NO ONE IS SO CORRECT IN THROUGHT AND SPEACH, THAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO HAVE EVERY THIMG THEY SAY REPEATED TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE. WE MUST REMIND OURSELVES AND OTHERS THAT THOUGHTLESS SPEAKERS TEAR UP HOMES AND FRIENDSHIPS.
CLOSE:
LET TRUE FRIENDSHIP SHOW ITS HAND AS IT OFFER A STRONG ARM. AND OPEN ITS DOOR OF REFUGE AND OF HOPE.
WHEN YOUR FRIEND IS IN NEED AND YOUR HOUR OF TESTING IS COME PROVE YOUR SELF TO BE A BROTHER OR SISTER TORN FOR ADVERSITY. BE LOYAL.
I KNOW A FRIEND WHO IS OUR EXAMPLE THE WRITER SAYS HE THAT HAS FRIENDS MUST SHOW HIMSELF TO BE FRIENDLY.
BUT THEIR IS A FRIEND WHO STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER ONE WHO IS THE SAMES YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER.
