We continued our series in Proverbs Sunday morning. This time we looked at several texts that have to do with friendship. Many verses warn us that not everyone who calls himself a friend is a friend: Prov. 1:15-16; 14:20; 16:29; 18:19; 19:4-7. Prov. 22:24-25 warns us against making friends with those who are hot-tempered. Several other texts tell us how to keep or lose friends: 10:12; 12:26; 14:30; 16:6; 16:28; 17:9; 18:1; 19:11; 22:11. Prov. 25:17 is very practical, "Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house--too much of you, and he will hate you." But what is a friend? These texts help flesh out that question: 17:17; 18:24; 20:6; 25:21-22; 27:6; 27:9-10; 27:17.
As I prepared this sermon, I was constantly reminded that I'm not the friend I should be nor the friend I want to be. This makes me all the more thankful for God the Father who has befriended me in Christ. It is interesting that God the Father is never called our friend but we are called his friend.
If I could add two things to the sermon, I would emphasize: (1) When we are lonely, we can draw near to God and he promises to draw near to us (James 4:8). We think we need others--and in a sense we do. But God alone can satisfy. Spend time alone in prayer and in God's Word. Hunger after him until you find him. (2) Jesus knew what it was like to be alone. This is not because he sinned but because he bore the punishment we deserve. When he was forsaken on the cross he had already been abandoned by his disciples, but on the cross he was abandoned by his father. He did not deserve it. But he willingly accepted it. When you feel lonely, remember that Christ knows how you feel and turn to him.
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