Thought for Monday, January 9th

January 9, 2012

Being And/Or Having A Friend

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:19-24

Quote of the Day

“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”

-          Saint Thomas Aquinas

Today’s Thoughts and Insights

Columnist, Doug Larson, said of friends: “A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!”

Aren’t we so blessed that God not only overlooks our faults and forgives them when we ask Him too; but He more than tolerates our success’: He rejoices over them.  God loves to see His children succeed and so does our elder brother, Jesus.  Truly in Him we have a friend like no other.

But are we the kind of friend to God that He is to us?  And are we the kind of friend to each other that we want others to be to us?

Businessman, Charles Schwab suggests that we should; “Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will live.”

Jesus teaches that we are to love, forgive, encourage, support and help one another.  And He also suggests that we are His friends if we keep His commandments and do the things He instructs us too.

So how good of a friend are you to Him? 

Woodrow Wilson made this statement; “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.”

As Christians friendship with God will be the only thing that will hold our lives together and to be a real friend of God’s we must be real friends with each other. 

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are amazing, wonderful beyond words and totally awesome.  Help me to be a better friend to you by being a better friend to others.

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”

-          Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Let my Lifesong sing to You”

- from ‘Lifesong’ by Casting Crowns