Monday Reading: Proverbs 27 9-10
Key Verse: Proverbs 27 10
10 Your own friend, and your father's friend, do not forsake them; nor go to your brother's house in the day of your trouble; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Devotion:
How much do you really put into friendships? How much do you trust your friends or neighbours that are close by? Sometimes we withdraw from people that are physically close to us and depend rather on people that are closely related to us. What happens then when we are in desperate need of something and the only people close enough to help us are those friends and neighbours that we have refused to get close to?
Key Verse: Proverbs 27 10
10 Your own friend, and your father's friend, do not forsake them; nor go to your brother's house in the day of your trouble; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Devotion:
How much do you really put into friendships? How much do you trust your friends or neighbours that are close by? Sometimes we withdraw from people that are physically close to us and depend rather on people that are closely related to us. What happens then when we are in desperate need of something and the only people close enough to help us are those friends and neighbours that we have refused to get close to?
God wants us to be able to mix and interact with our neighbours and friends that live close to us. Some of us are fortunate enough to have family that are just as close, but that is not always the case. What we have to begin to realise is that we are actually all one family when seen through God's eyes – so why do we act differently? There are many societies in different countries that do mix well with each other and depend on each other. They live very happy lives together and build up circles of trust that run very deep. But here in England so many people tend not to do that, closing the rest of the world off when the front door is shut.
We can set up our homes as best as we can with all the luxuries that we can afford, but none of that is going to match up to friendship. No earthly materials are going to match the friendship we can gain from others. No materials will ever affect the heart like a true friendship can. When we build up true friendships, we know then that we can depend on others for anything. We know then that we can rely on others. When they need help, we can help them. When we need help, they will be there for us.
But never forget that God is closer to us than any friend. He is there to help us at all times and we need to acknowledge Him as our close friend at all times!
Points to Ponder:
When did you last do things with your neighbours?
When did you last include Christ in your circle of friends?
When did you last do things with your neighbours?
When did you last include Christ in your circle of friends?