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9th November 2024
SaturdayReflection
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'Jordan Iacobucci shares'
'serving as a song leader and a sermonette speaker'
"What is the meaning of Proverbs 17:17? "
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A Friend Loves at All Times
Do you have a friend who you know will be there for you, no matter what?
Are you the kind of person who your friends know will be there for them, no matter what?
Our modern world has many ideas about what a friend should look like, but what does the Bible say a friend should look like?
One of the Bible's definitions of a good friend is found in Proverbs 17:17
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."
While this verse could be written off as a simple platitude about friendship, it actually contains an amazing insight into what godly friendships look like.
A friend who "loves at all times" is consistent
There is something intrinsically comforting in someone who is a consistent friend.
This is the kind of person you know will be there for you at all times, whether or not you ask.
I've been blessed to have had the same best friend throughout my entire life.
In every battle I have faced in life, this friend has been there to provide support and comfort, whether he knew it or not.
My friend didn't have to know the particular days that I was struggling in order to provide comfort and support.
He was already being the best friend he could be by just reaching out to check in every once in a while.
The people that stick by your side in trials ultimately become more than friends.
Proverbs 18:24 alludes to this higher form of friendship:
"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
A friend becomes a brother (or a sister) when he or she stands by you even when it is inconvenient.
In the Bible, Jonathan and David are shown to have had this kind of friendship.
Their friendship was so strong that 1 Samuel 18:1 describes their souls as being "knit" together as one.
Throughout their lives, David and Jonathan's friendship grew in the face of hardship.
Even when King Saul, Jonathan's father, sought to kill David, the young prince consistently defended his friend.
While it is unlikely that any of us will face the same kind of life-threatening trials that plagued Jonathan and David, we can still aspire to their example of friendship.
A friend becomes a brother (or a sister) when he or she stands by you even when it is inconvenient.
Jonathan could have been punished severely for helping David escape from Saul, but he did so anyway because of how dearly he loved his friend, who was more like a brother.
Friends may be found in everyday life, but these proverbial brothers are forged in the fires of adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 doesn't just tell us what to look for in a friend.
It also should inspire us to observe how we behave within our own friendships.
Are there ways in which we can improve?
Here are a few examples:
● Stay in regular contact with your friends (Romans 1:13).
● Be sensitive to your friends' needs (Galatians 6:2).
● Look for opportunities to show care and appreciation for your friends (John 15:12-13).
● Tell your friends how much you appreciate them (Romans 1:8-12).
● Pray for your friends (Ephesians 1:16).
These actions and more can set you on a path to being the kind of consistent friend that is like a brother (or sister).
Those times of hardship may never come - but then again, they may.
If you are already being a good friend, your friendship won't falter when the day of adversity comes.
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This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
'We don't do "watered down'
Christianity is easy ...
...when you remove its standards, blur its focus and strip away its purpose.
And a lot of churches are happy to do that for you.
We aren't one of them.
Our job - the mission Christ gave to us - is to share God's message of life, hope and truth with the world.
We don't believe that message needs to be updated or polished or reinvented for the modern age.
The words of God are as timeless and powerful today as the day they were first recorded.
As the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, our job is to share that message with the world and then care for those who respond to it
Jordan Iacobucci
Jordan Iacobucci attends the Raleigh, North Carolina, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.
Jordan is an active member of the Raleigh congregation, serving as a song leader and a sermonette speaker.
He grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Dominican University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in English.
He is currently working as a freelance writer.
In his spare time, Jordan enjoys broadening his writing skills and spending time with family and friends.
After he completes his biblical studies, he plans to pursue a full-time career in writing.
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