June 29th

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

There is only one friend who is eternally grateful and that is God. Many people try to pile up companions and favors to stockpile themselves against harm and disaster for the future. They try to build an insurance policy of friendship that makes them invincible, well protected and feeling that they will not be left alone. This can cause us to depend on our own efforts of the flesh and not on the love and grace of God. It also robs us of the possibility of more faith because our faith is based on our own achievements, accomplishments and sacrifices.

We are really looking to be in control when we do this approach to friendship. We think that we can build ourselves an emotional fortress where pain, rejection and abandonment cannot hurt us. No one likes to feel alone in a storm of fear or betrayal. Many people promise their love forever and say they will never forget you, but then they do the opposite. Only God has the capacity to never leave us or forsake us, as He promises in His Word. This is reflected to us on many occasions when He was true to us even when we were not true to Him. When we experience God’s goodness, we can fully embrace His friendship with all our hearts and all our strength.