Right!

Right!

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 NIV

We were built for relationship and close fellowship. The very foundations of our lives are built on the connections that blood births. All of us are products of families; no one fell from the sky or just came into being. We come from families, we marry into families; we are loved all through our lives by families; we fellowship together as families and it is family that will stand by us through all the good and 'bad' times that will come our way.

Yet, in all of these, today's extract seems to warn against fruitless relationships. It seems to me that it is a good thing to be a companion to many people, but it is a dangerous thing not to know the heart of the people you are close to. There seems to be a warning here about unreliable friends; how do you know if someone is unreliable if you are not close to the person or if you have never had your expectations dashed?

The danger with too many friends, especially if they have different pursuits and priorities from yours, is that you get pulled in many directions and you lose your focus. If you need friends to give you validation, then the journey to fulfillment of purpose is still far. You need friends who have the same heart for God as you do, as well as people who will drive you closer to God. They could be few or many; the number isn't the issue, but it is about the impact on your life.

There are people God will bring your way for a reason, for a season or for the whole of your life's journey. You have got to know where each person fits. Some will teach you hard lessons; some will seek to bring you down; others will hold your hands up. No matter what comes, know this: God must be the focus at all times. He knows the right ingredients for my growth, and if I allow him work, He can guarantee a good end. Ask God to bring into your life helpers of destiny. They could be initially disguised as enemies, but at the end, God's purpose will speak. His time of favour is here.