12th, July, 2019
BE FRIENDLY
David Abankwah
READ: 1 John 3:15-18
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
-Proverbs 17:17 | KJV
I believe before King Solomon wrote Proverbs 17:17, he first told about the friendship that existed between his father – David and Jonathan. The love that existed between them is what we term nowadays as ‘bosom friends’. But the rift that existed between the family as Jonathan the son of Saul was helping David escape his father’s death plans, became a rock to kick one’s feet against. Saul had problems with his son Jonathan just because of how friendly he was towards David and the adversity Proverbs 17:17 talks about the family, started.
This actually confirms Micah 7:6 which reads: *For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.* -Micah 7:6 | NIV. Jesus Christ also confirmed Micah’s words in Matthew 10:36 when he was delivery a sermon on the peace of the world He didn’t bring, but a sword. This shows us the diverse adversities one can face in the family when one follows Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, one should still be friendly towards the members of his own household.
When you are someone who has the spirit or character of friendliness within you, you will be able to flow well with people who are your adversaries. You will not see people as your friends and others as your enemies. When it comes to the issue of believers loving their enemies, they say Christianity is too hard, who can do this? Being friendly towards your enemy is a habit you have to put up because, no one was born to love his enemies. When the habit of friendliness is developed, it then becomes your character which in turn develops the Spirit of friendliness within you.
It is not every friend you see around you that loves you. When Jesus Christ was been held high esteem and many believed in the signs He did, He began to have many friends around Him, yet, He didn’t commit Himself unto them because He knew what was in people (John 2:25). If God should uncover the masks some friends are wearing, you will live to hate everybody. Yet, He still entreats us to love and be friendly towards one another (Matthew 5:43-48). Note that, you will not have all people who will love you and you will not have all people who will hate you.
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David Abankwah 