BIBLE READING : Proverb 16; 17; 18; 2Corinthians 6
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” Proverb 17:17 (KJV)
Many people claim friendship with little or no knowledge of the demands and responsibilities of friendship. Most people show themselves friendly when the going is smooth and rosy only to dissappear at rough times when they are needed most.
Sycophants hang around and sing the praise of people because of what they stand to gain from the people. Such people are not honest and true. They cannot give honest correction or rebuke when the need arises for fear of falling out of favour. They want to please people for selfish gains. True friends, on the contrary, give honest assessment of their friends. They praise where there is cause to do so and they rebuke and correct where the situation calls for that. They love their friend enough as not to flatter them. They speak the truth to their friend in love to bring out the best of their friend.
True friends love in good times and bad times. They stick to the friendship when the friend is down and out. They are there to identify with their friend in debt, in shame, in pain as well as in good times. Their friendship is in sickness and in health, in poverty and in riches, in failure and in success, in victory and in defeat. They are there to celebrate together and to weep together. Their hands are always stretched to lift and to help.
PRAYER : : Thank you Lord for being my Lord and Friend.
Rev. Vincent Diolu