Proverbs 18:24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. I. THE RELATIONSHIP OF A BROTHER. A brother does sometimes stick close. The ties of blood are the last thing which prevents us from sinking into selfish atoms, or hardening into mere machines for minting money. Each relationship in the family has its own blessed meaning and duty. Brothers feel that their descent from one stock begets mutual alliances and obligations. But sometimes the links of brotherhood are broken. A brother in blood has sometimes been unbrotherly in will and in deed. II. THE MORE THAN BROTHERHOOD OF A BOSOM FRIEND. Probably the majority of men have friends nearer to them than blood-relations. Our kin are not always kind, whereas our friend is always our brother. There are less occasions for bickerings between friends than between brothers. Our friend is not with us constantly, and friendship loses none of its gloss by over-frequent contact. The superiority of friendship over brotherhood is due mostly to the fact that a "brother" may be a being apart, while a "friend" is a second self. Friends are one in kind, "moulded like in nature's mint." The true melodic charm of friendship lies in the devotion of both friends to the service of Christ. III. THE FRIEND MORE THAN A BROTHER CAN BE NO OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST. Christ alone has those elements of character which can make Him the clinging Friend. (F. G. Collier.) Parallel Verses KJV: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.WEB: A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
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