A Friend Sticks Closer Than Family

I measure interest in someone, by interaction and involvement, not events. When we are interested in someone, we call, write or visit the one we love. When we attend an event with many others there, that's nice, but it is not an indication that the attendee really cares, they are there out of obligation, curiosity, perhaps to see others who attend, but not necessarily for the one that was the focus of the event.

Is anyone else like me? I understand the concept of "acquaintances" and even love those I don't see often whom I have been connected in some way over the years. I also enjoy someone from long ago coming into my life, a sort of blast from the past, to reconnect with.

However, a close friend, is someone who partakes of our life and who allows us to partake in their life. Too many superficial acquaintances will dilute our walk with Christ, eventually we will become like them, focused on merely the unimportant and shallow experiences, satisfied with that because it really does, at times, feel happier.

Proverbs 18:24 "24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

As believers, our closest friends ought to be those who dearly love Christ, who would enhance our walk with Him, while deeply interested in our spiritual welfare, as we are interested in theirs.

As the Bible clearly states in Amos, two cannot walk together who are not agreed.

Friends are not people who remain superficial, desiring only the happy fun times, enjoying us when we enhance or elevate them. When we love someone we are deeply concerned about their spiritual well being above everything else. Material things they have or we get, are happy experiences, but take a back seat to our inner heart and spiritual development. In fact, material wealth tends to distract us from the real issues of life that matter for eternity. We thank God for His blessings of material wealth, but we cannot make them center stage rushing after them as though they really do have importance.

When our focus is Christ, our goal is in sight, that to be profoundly connected and dedicated to the principles of Christ, the material wealth seems at the bottom of the list in importance.

I would have probably made a change in the poster below to say, "Friends come and go but a true friend sticks by us even when family does not."

1 Corinthians 15:32-34 "…32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"