“A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.”  Proverbs 17:17

Our Scripture is describing a true friend and, as a brother, (or sister) who is there for support in times of misfortune, calamity or distress.

New Testament in Basic English says of Proverbs 17:17,
“A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.”

A true friend is unchangeable, he/she loves at all times and is always a friend, but the desire for many friends can be perilous as Proverbs 18:24 tells us,
“A man of many companions may come to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

And of ‘a friend of the world’ James 4:4 says,
“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.”

That is a powerful statement and should cause us to develop our friendships wisely.  Do we not caution our children to do just that while they are growing up?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 tells us how profitable it is to have a friend:
“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 men can withstand him.
And a threefold cord can not quickly be broken.”

And the truest friend of all is Jesus, our Lord!  He has said in John 15:15,
“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I call you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
True friends have an intimate relationship and are like minded.  As Believers we are one in Christ; if one in Christ should we not be like minded?  For to be other would be enmity with Him.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 that we should walk worthy of our calling.  Vs. 4-6 tells us,
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all.”

Thank you Lord for providing true friends for us and helping us Holy Spirit to be true and faithful friends.  But above all, thank you Most Holy Lord for choosing us to have a friendship relationship with You!  Amen