True Blue!

The true colors of some individuals do not always show until such persons are needed most. Someone has said, “Prosperity makes friends; adversity tries them.” [source: “1600 Squibs And Quips”, compiled by E. C.
McKenzie]

Solomon acknowledged how wealth can bring many new friends. (Proverbs
19:4) However, what we need are TRUE FRIENDS. They are the kind money can’t buy and adversity does not run off. When one is blue and times are too, it is the “true blue” friends who will remain; those who are completely loyal and faithful.

Solomon stated…
“A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES, AND A BROTHER IS BORN FOR ADVERSITY.”
( Proverbs 17:17 ESV)

I don’t see the references to a friend and a brother as being opposite, but rather both to be mentioned in a positive way. It was not that a friend was loyal and a brother adversarial. Instead, as a TRUE FRIEND would be loyal, a TRUE BROTHER was also born to help and support when adversity came.

The New Living Translation reads: “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

It is in the tough times that our true friends and bothers (and sisters) are revealed. They remain loyal in times of prosperity and adversity. Such are more than a friend -- they are brotherly in times of need. And it may be the adversity itself that brings forth such true godly colors.

The key to this kind of loyal friendship and brotherliness is genuine love. Such relationships are beautiful and are a powerful source of support.
Relationships of this sort are where a shared burden is cut in half and shared joys are multiplied. Within the church, God’s family, there ought to be such a source of support through a willingness to stick together through thick and thin. That is what the Lord desires and the world needs to see.
(note John 13:34-35)

May we pray that we have such TRUE FRIENDS and TRUE BRETHREN and that we ourselves would be such to those around us. Since we have that kind of TRUE FRIEND in Jesus, walking in His steps we should be the same to others.

Have a great day BEING A LOVING FAITHFUL FRIEND!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Friendship