Identity!

Identity!

Proverbs 18:24 AMPC

[24] The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

We come to the book of one-liners, where each verse is a message on its own. It is also important to note that most of the words of this book are credited to the man called the wisest man on earth at the time. It is also key to note that the wisdom displayed in the book of Proverbs is yet to be rivalled or matched by any other source today. It can even be further argued that many of the human laws that guide relationships today are derived from the words of this book. Is it not obvious that the wisdom of God is critical to human existence? Where would we be without the hand of God to guide and direct our ideas engagements, and interactions? What has become critical is the fact that human interactions are critical to our mental and emotional wellbeing. In His wisdom, God has made it so that we do not survive on our own. We need to interact with other people. 

We have been placed in the midst of other people so that their lives could rub off on us, and we also can influence other people with what we know and have. The human body is also a study in the importance of interaction and coordination with other parts. No part can play the role of other parts well; the eye cannot hear in behalf of the ear. However, it is important to be careful about how much information is allowed to linger on my heart. Not everything that passes in front of me is allowed to come into my life. Not everything that looks good is actually good for me. As much as God wants me to be a blessing to the world around me, I have not been made the saviour of the world. That is the work of Jesus, and He is quite capable to do this work by Himself. I am not Omnipotent; I will not be able to help every single life I come in contact with all at the same time.

There are some who I can help today, and there are some who I may need to signpost to where they can get help. Value is not in how many friends I have, but in how many lives I am able to impact. A man of many friends may think he is quite nice, but the issue is that compromise will happen, when you cannot please all of them at the same time. Do not pursue many friends at the expense of a life of purpose and direction. The few people who can help you on the journey to eternity with God must be the focus. Eventually, many friends will pull you in directions you do not want to go. There is that one person who will be glad for all of eternity that you passed his or her way. Be that one friend that will lead others to the path of eternal life. At the end of this life, what matters are the lives that came to know God through you, and whose lives were secured because you spoke, acted as a child of God, or simpy showed the kind of love that pointed them in the direction of God. Am I that kind of friend? Am I showing people the way to God? God's time of favour is here.