Our Scripture reading today is Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
There are two distinct parts to this one verse. In the first part of the verse, Solomon challenges us with how to have friends. It would seem obvious that being friendly will help in the search for friends. Unfortunately, there are many times we can become proud and this gets in the way of building friendships. When pride is evident, we tend to wait on others to initiate friendly behaviour. The admonition in this verse is we are to be the ones initiating the friendship.
The second half of the verse shifts from many friends to one Friend. There are no human friendships that can compare with the relationship we have with the Lord Jesus Christ. Our earthly friends will fail us; Jesus never fails. Our earthly friends will eventually die; Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us. While Solomon may or may not have been referring to Jesus Christ, there is no doubt in my mind that the application can be made. As the hymn writer wrote, "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus...no not one, no not ONE"!