Text:
Proverbs 18:24:
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Theme:
My Best Friend
Introduction:
Solomon, Son of King David and King of Isreal, wrote this book of poetry entitled fully the Proverbs of Solomon.
- Solomon wrote the book establishing the principles of Proverbs to be piety, charity, justice, benevolence, and true prudence. These principle serves as the foundation for Christian living within the Proverbs of Solomon and give Christians today the “mother wit” needed to survive “holding up the bloodstain banner”.
As the text says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly”
- A friend is one whom you can trust, depend on, and respect
- However, to have a friend, the text says that you must be a friend
- You must BE trustworthy, dependable, and respectful
- If this is not the case, we find ourselves losing friends and being disappointed and sometimes hurt.
- However, to have a friend, the text says that you must be a friend
Job is one who knew what it meant to have friends in this world.
- Job 2:11, “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.”
- But then Job learned what these friends were really about:
- Job 32:3, “Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.”
- They were self-serving, judgmental, inconsiderate, and disruptive in what they thought was helping Job.
- Job 32:3, “Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.”
The theme acknowledges that special friend…a Best Friend.
- Your best friend is the one who is closer than all the rest.
- Your best friend is the one whom you go to first when you need a friend.
- Your best friend is the one who knows the most about you.
- Your best friend is the one who
Who is your friend? Who is your best friend?
- When people let you down like Job’s friends did, who can you turn to?
- Solomon answers this question with the “B clause” of the verse that is our text when He says:
“and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”
When people let us down, the creation has to go to the Creator.
- As the bumper sticker says, “You have a friend in Jesus”
Body:
- John 15:13-15 gives three points of understanding for experiencing a relationship with God:
- What we could do
- What we should do
- What He has done
13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
What we could do
- Set expectations of the friendship:
- No man can be more or a friend than what Jesus has already done.
- He was born FOR US
- He lived FOR US
- He died FOR US
- He rose again FOR US
- Here’s what God has done for us, but what have we done for Him!
14: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
What we should do
- As friends we are to be obey God…His commandments
- With man – Sacrifice is key to a friendship
- With God – Obedience is greater than sacrifice
- Exodus 33:11 gives us a good example of the obedient nature of our relationship with God, “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”
- Moses did what God commanded him to do.
- Moses conveyed to the people the Word of God designed for them.
- That relationship through obedience and dedication established their friendship
15: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
What He has done
- The Word of God in our lives makes us more than just servants because of our knowledge of the Will and wonders of God. We don’t know it all but we know enough to be held accountable for our lives and our end of the friendship.
- James 2:23 shows us the power of receiving what God gives to you, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
Conclusion:
- The text goes a step further when it says in verse 24:
“and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”
- “there is a friend”
- Jesus is calling out to us
“You just call on my name, and you know where ever I am I’ll come running to see you again. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall…all you have to do is call, and I’ll be there. You’ve got a friend!”
- “that sticketh”
- God is consistent…unlike us!
- We are wishy-washy, sometimey, wavering, fickle, neither here nor there!
- People can be like cheap tape: They stick under two conditions:
- Now…later starts to loose its grip and peel away.
- When the conditions are favorable…change the temperature and it loses its grip and peels away.
- However, Hebrews 13:8 tells us that, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
- Jesus won’t let you down…He sticks!
- “closer than a brother”
- The brother represents your earthly resource, your best resource…your closest resource.
- So, whatever or whoever you thought were your best friend, Jesus is closer!
- Jesus is MORE REAL than RIGHT THERE
- Jesus is MORE UNDERSTANDING than RIGHT ON
- Jesus is MORE PUNCTUAL than RIGHT NOW
- But what Solomon was saying, is that…Jesus is CLOSER than RIGHT HERE
- “and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”
- However, Hebrews 13:8 tells us that, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
- Jesus is MY BEST FRIEND!
- When I was hungry…He fed me!
- When I was thirsty…He gave me something to drink!
- When I was down and out…He took me in!
- MY BEST FRIEND!
- When I was lonely…He comforted me!
- When I was sick…He was my doctor!
- When I was in trouble…He was my lawyer!
- MY BEST FRIEND!
- When I was fatherless…He was my Father!
- When I was motherless…He was my mother!
- When I was friendless…He was my Friend!
- HE’S MY BEST FRIEND!!!
