August 2, 2024 – Friends… Who Needs Them?

Friends… Who Needs Them?
August 2, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 19:5-8
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “Friends… Who needs them, right? I can do it myself. I can get along on my own. I don’t need anybody’s help. I don’t need anybody.” Have you ever heard anyone say anything like that? Maybe you have even said something similar. Possibly right after you, or an idea of yours, was rejected by someone. Maybe you were invited to a themed party, and when you arrived, you found you were the only one dressed a certain way. It could be you grew up feeling rejected by those around you, so now you feel you do not need friends and live your life keeping others at a distance as well.

    The problem is, if you are living this way, you are living a lie. We all do need friends. We cannot make it through life on our own. We need others in our lives. Also, it is inherent in us to want to be liked. We all seek other people’s approval.

    In the Bible Jesus often speaks of friends and family. God created Eve for Adam because He said in Genesis 2:18; “…It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” He later created the church for the same reason: that people might complement one another. I am not referring to people saying good things about one another, although that would be nice. I mean complementing one another’s lives with the talents and abilities each of us has, given to us by the Holy Spirit. He gifted each of us to bless one another.

 

    You know, what really makes a person poor? It is not the clothes they have or where they live. It’s not the amount of money they earn or the type of car they drive. What truly makes a person poor is having no one who trusts in them. It’s having no friend to encourage them or to pick them up when they fall. A person with few or no friends is indeed poor.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    How would you like to make someone rich today? If you think you can’t, you’re wrong. Go be someone’s real friend. You will be giving them something that all the money in the world can never buy. Introduce them to your friend, Jesus. Then you will have given them true, uncountable riches.

 

Are you going to share the wealth you have
in you and in Jesus today?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: August 2, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 49 – Isaiah 54
  Proverbs 19:5 – 8

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 6-10
  Acts 27:21-44