(Proverbs 17:17) “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
(Proverbs 18:24) A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(Proverbs 27:17) As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
(Proverbs 12:26) “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
(Proverbs 22:24) “Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,”
(Proverbs 22:25) Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.
(Proverbs 27:6) “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
(Proverbs 27:9) “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.”
Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
(Proverbs 27:10) “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.”
Wisdom
How God created the world
Truth, beauty
Awe and wonder of God
Friendship
Daniel Cox - AEI
All people:
41% of women received emotional support from a friend in the past week
21% of men
Internet?
Wasn’t it supposed to make us more connected:
Gen Z - born online
29% - feeling lonely at least once a week - about half of which reported feeling it every day
Incel - men who feel unable to attract a women
Anger, self-hate, rejected
Relationship Hierarchy
Triangle - acquaintances, friendship, romance
Level up
“I marry my best friend”, puzzle piece, soulmate, one person to carry me and my emotional baggage
Not great for marriages
My story
We live in a world increasingly isolated and lonely.
Thousands of marriage books (not all good…)
Friendship?
Book of Proverbs speaks often of friendship
Wisdom for Friendship:
1). Friendship is
(Proverbs 27:17) As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Iron - makes us better
Not occasional
(Proverbs 17:17) “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
We need to see this as something important
Not just something that happens as we live our life
Something to treasure, cultivate and pursue
2). Wisdom in which friendship you pursue
(Proverbs 12:26) “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
(Proverbs 22:24) “Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,”
Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Because of the vulnerability, value
We need to be mindful of our friendships
Doesn’t mean we
Here to serve and love our neighbor
Work to encourage, lift up
Be that friend to others
But I need a number of people in my life
Let me guard down, open up to
Core of people that love me no matter what
Encourage me in grace
Lift me up to Jesus
3). Lean in
Adversity
(Proverbs 17:17) “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
(Proverbs 27:9) “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.”
Iron
(Proverbs 27:17) As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Takes
We think it just happens - and it does
But through
Can be uncomfortable - Iron on iron
Cultivate
Give before I receive
Receive friends in my adversity
Delight the heart
Why is it so wonderful?
Made to be with each other
Points to the deep reality of God
Jesus in John 15
John 15:9-17
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
—John 15:9-17
Jesus is our teacher, prophet, priest, king
But, he now calls us friend
Gives us his life
Cross
Come to the table
Jesus is our friend