October 30, 2017
FRIENDS OR FOES?
Proverbs 17:15-28
Lainey Richardson
Central Truth
Sometimes we gain friends who don't always point us to Christ, but God wants us to have friends who love us and point us to Him.
Key Verse | Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
(Proverbs 17:17)
Proverbs 17:15-28
15
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
16
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18
One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19
Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20
A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
1
17:23
Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
to pervert the ways of justice.
24
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25
A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
26
To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Dive Deeper | Proverbs 17:15-28
I am truly lucky to have so many great believing friends in my life. Many of them I've had since birth! Going into middle school was difficult. I knew I had to keep my eyes focused on Christ and not get distracted by others (Proverbs 12:26) and still love everyone the same (1 Peter 3:8-12), just like Jesus does!
Even if you don't realize it, God loves you and is your friend! His love is unfailing, and the plan He has for you is perfect. God wants you to realize that He cares for you enough to allow hard times. It may not seem like it right then, but you can use your knowledge that you gain from it to teach others (Proverbs 19:20). God is also the mighty, all-powerful, wonderful Creator of the universe. Whoa . . . I know, right? Just remember that He loves you and is your BFF!
Think of your BEST friends. Are they following Christ like you are? Or do they "dis" Christianity? God wants you to have friends who believe in Jesus like you do! Not friends who don't encourage you or cheer you on. Why? Because you will not grow in your faith if you hang out with them. "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8) Plug in "a friend" instead of "anyone" in this verse and you might just realize something.
The key verse, Proverbs 17:17, says that a friend is there for a time of need, and a brother (actual sibling or a VERY good friend) helps in desperate circumstances. Put yourself into that spot . . . are you doing that for your friends/siblings? Can they count on you to be there for them? Doing that would be shining Christ's light through you. You might just change one person's life!
My takeaway from Proverbs 17:17—listen and be friends with God, choose friends wisely, and love them well!
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have an understanding of how much God, the Creator of the universe, loves you and thinks of you every day?
2. How are you wisely choosing your friends each day?
3. Do others view you as a loving, compassionate friend just like Jesus is?
4. How does Scripture inform/impact your friendships?