A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)
Who you decide to keep close to you as friends is one of the most important decisions you will make. Proverbs has a lot to say about those whom we choose as friends.
The emphasis on all times in Proverbs 17:17 leaves no room for ambiguity. What does all times mean? It means every moment. How much is left after every moment? No moment and nothing is left after all times. This wording is a profound reminder that genuine friendship is not conditional.
Godly friendship flourishes in both the sunshine of joy and the storms of adversity. You really don’t know who your friends are until you aren’t popular, and people or situations are against you. A true friend is anointed to help you through the struggles of difficulty. An authentic friend will stand with you when no one else will.
When my kids were young, my wife made it a point to teach this concept to our kids. They would come home saying, “so-and-so is my friend,” and we had to get them to understand the difference between friends and acquaintances. You don’t need someone who is going to be a buddy when everything is good; you need someone who sticks closer than a brother during the difficult moments of life.
In fact, the second part of this verse talks about a brotherhood that extends beyond blood. This is friendship that is forged in the crucible of life’s challenges, in moments of adversity, and in the problems that we can’t seem to find our way around in the moment. In moments of crisis, real friends are God’s gift to us to show us support and love.
Practical Application
Reevaluate your friendships and consider who would continue to stand by your side when the applause fades and adversity comes. In a world where the term friend is often loosely, we must guard our hearts and guide our expectation toward those who we really should call friends.