June 17, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 17
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6. Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18. A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19. He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24. Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26. Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Today's Pathway:
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"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." - Proverbs 17:17

In this verse Solomon points out a characteristic of the true friend. He states that a friend loveth at all times.

Most of us have heard of the"fair-weather friend". This is the person who claims to be your friend, but when things get tough he is nowhere to be found. He is always ready to have fun with you, or go somewhere with you, or be amused by you, but when the time comes for him to minister to you he disappears. This man is not a real friend. He may be an acquaintance, and he may be someone that you enjoy spending time with, but he can not be classified as a friend. Friends are there for you regardless of the circumstances. Friends love you, and live out that love to you, even when they have to make sacrifices in order to so so. They are there in prosperity, but also in poverty. They are there when there is fun to be had, but also when there is work to be done. They are even there when you have rejected them and treated them improperly, because a real friend loves all the time.

It is interesting to note that Solomon connects this thought with the statement that "a brother is born for adversity". While there certainly are other benefits to having brothers and sisters, Solomon here emphasizes the fact that brothers exist so that they can assist one another in times of opposition and devastation. I personally do not have a brother, but I do have numerous brothers in Christ. I need to ask myself how much effort I put into aiding them when the adversity strikes them. They don't really need me when times are good, they need me when things look their darkest, and it is at that point in time that the strength of our friendship is revealed.

Who are your real friends? More importantly, who could honestly call you his friend?

Pastor Mark J Montgomery