A Friend Closer Than A Brother

August 11, 2021 (Wednesday))

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”(Proverbs 18:24 KJV).

There are ways that a friend can be more faithful than a brother.

The ESV version of the Bible translates the first line of the proverb this way: “A man of many companions may come to ruin.” A person with many friends may still have problems. The number of friends does not necessarily mean they are the kind of friends who stick with you. Famous people have been known to live lonely lives.

The word,”friend,” is used nine other times in the Proverbs. Wisdom is called a friend (7:4), a friend loves at all times (17:17), a poor man is deserted by his friend (19:4), everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts (19:6), a person with gracious speech has the king as his friend (22:11), faithful are the wounds of a friend (27:6), the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel (27:9), and do not forsake your friend and father’s friend (27:10).

One might become your friend because you have something to offer (like material gifts or influence), but you want a friend whose love and admiration is real. Some people just profess friendship, but others really love and appreciate you.

A wonderful example of genuine friendship is that of David and Jonathan. They were faithful to each other as friends and protected one another from harm. Jonathan even risked his life interceding for David before King Saul, who sought to kill David. After Jonathan’s death, David wrote a lament for his friend (2 Samuel 1:25–26). Their friendship was stronger than David’s relationship with any of his own brothers.

Jesus was known as a “friend of sinners” (Luke 7:34), and He has promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus is truly the Friend who sticks closer than a brother, and blessed are those who have Him as their Friend. Jesus said, “You are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15).