Proverbs 18:24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. (a sermon to children): — I. HOW ARE WE TO HOLD OUR FRIENDS? Friendliness preserves friendship. But what is friendliness? 1. A friendly man is a sincere man. True, trustworthy, transparent in character. Mocking and deceitful men, like Mr. Facing-both-Ways, are never loved and trusted. By their duplicity and insincerity the Stuarts lost a kingdom, and King George I, who succeeded them, and prospered and won the affection of the great English people, was once heard to say, "My maxim is, never to abandon my friends, to do justice to all, and to fear no man." 2. A friendly man is frank and generous. A story is told of Demetrius, one of the conquerers of Athens, that shows the power of generosity in making friends. After the glorious victory Demetrius did not harass and humiliate the inhabitants of the beautiful city, but treated them generously. Commanding his soldiers to fill the empty houses of the citizens with provisions, they wondered at his goodness, and fear grew into love. II. WHO IS THE NOBLEST FRIEND? — "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." What a faithful friend was Jonathan to David! 1. In Jesus we have a royal Friend, possessing treasures, and crowns, and kingdoms such as no earthly monarch owns. 2. In Jesus we have a generous Friend. 3. Jesus is a constant Friend. Some people use their friends as shipwrecked sailors use their rafts, as masons use scaffolding, as gardeners use clay in grafting trees. They neglect them or fling them away whenever they have served their selfish purposes. But Jesus is a steady Friend, "Ever faithful, ever true." He will never leave us nor forsake us. After bidding farewell to all his relations, President Edwards, when dying, said, "Now, where is Jesus of Nazareth, my true and never-failing Friend?" And immediately the "Friend born for adversity" came and led him through the valley of the shadow, and gave him a place among "the shining ones" in our heavenly Father's home. (J. Moffat Scott.) 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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