A FRIEND WHO IS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.
Scripture Reference: “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
Friendship as a concept, is disappearing from the world today. We live in a world where relationships are at best shallow. There are lots of new inventions that are assumed will draw us closer to each other, making the whole world into a global village, but instead we have been driven farther apart. Now at the touch of a button, you can be in touch with someone on the other side of the world, yet we remain total strangers, even to those with whom we live in the same house with. We have conversations but do not communicate; we have associations with each other, but no fellowship; technology has brought us closer together but we have never been farther apart. We have become a family of strangers. “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” Proverbs 27:10 NKJV.
Relationship is a Yahvah ordained system that was put in place for our good. Man was created because God wanted a creature like Himself with whom He could have a relationship. Even the Trinity work together in a relationship to achieve the purpose of the Oneness. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” What that scripture was saying in essence is that it is better to have deep friendships and relationships than to be a Lone Ranger. If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.
The deep friendship between Jonathan and David, saved David’s life when Saul was trying to kill him. Their bond was so deep that Jonathan foiled his father’s plan to kill David, even when he knew that he couldn’t ever become king after his father, as long as David lived. Their friendship was so deep that he gave up everything for his friend. That is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
To have deep, meaningful relationships, take the time to really talk with people. Care genuinely for them and come out of your technology bubble. Put your smartphone away and interact with other human beings face to face instead of via a medium. Let us learn to have meaningful conversations that actually communicate our thoughts, our emotions and our hearts. Enough of the surface relationships, get to really know someone today, become friends and work on making that friendship as deep as possible; that relationship might save your life in the future and it might also provide you with opportunities for a brighter future.
