Proverbs 19:4 on true friendship?
What does Proverbs 19:4 reveal about the nature of true friendship?

Setting the Scene

Proverbs 19:4 lays bare a timeless truth about human relationships and motives. It reads: “Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.”


The Core Insight

• Earthly prosperity often draws a crowd.

• Poverty can expose who truly loves us.

• The verse is descriptive, not prescriptive—it reports what happens, then invites the reader to value something deeper than material ties.


Surface Takeaways

• Friendship that forms around advantage is fragile.

• When resources dry up, so do fair-weather companions.

• Genuine loyalty shows itself most clearly when there is nothing to gain.


Digging Deeper: When Riches Rule Relationships

• Wealth can create a magnetic pull, but it seldom builds roots.

• The “many friends” of the wealthy are actually seekers of benefit; Scripture candidly labels them friends, yet the context exposes their shallow nature.

• Poverty acts as a sieve, filtering out the insincere.


Contrasting True Friendship

Scripture consistently paints a richer picture of friendship than temporary alliances built on gain. Consider the balance of these verses:

Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

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

Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”


Marks of Genuine Friendship According to Scripture

1. Consistency through hardship (Proverbs 17:17).

2. Self-sacrifice, not self-interest (John 15:13).

3. Honest, sometimes painful counsel (Proverbs 27:6).

4. Loyalty that exceeds mere social connection (Proverbs 18:24).

5. Mutual strengthening and shared load-bearing (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

6. Love that endures and protects (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).


Practical Takeaways

• Evaluate relationships by their response to loss, not gain.

• Seek to be the kind of friend described in Proverbs 17:17—present “at all times,” not only in seasons of abundance.

• Guard against the temptation to pursue friendships for advantage; instead pursue people, not perks.

• Embrace opportunities to prove loyalty when others face financial or social downturns; such moments reveal Christ-like character.

• Build community around shared faith, integrity, and mutual edification—foundations that remain steady whatever earthly fortunes may rise or fall.

How does Proverbs 19:4 illustrate the impact of wealth on relationships?
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