A Friend In Jesus

Proverbs 18: 16 – 24

 A man’s gift makes room for him,

And brings him before great men.

¹⁷ The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

¹⁸ Casting lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.

¹⁹ A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰ A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

²² He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.

²³ The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers roughly.

²⁴ A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

 What are your gifts?  And how are you using them to bring glory to God?  Are you training and growing your gift in God’s word?  We have been ordained to be on God’s earth and He says He has given us gifts to use to edify and give glory to Him and His Son.  However, the only way to train our gifts, to give glory is to study to show ourselves approved.  We may even have to separate ourselves from family and friends just to give that honor to our creator.  Believe me He is worthy and is now sitting upon His throne until all His enemies have become His footstool.  Wickedness must cease, and thoughts that don’t line up biblical must be put away for us to be free and enjoy our gift.  As long as we walk around wearing our feelings and emotions on our shoulders, we will stay defeated.  God says, we are warriors and conquerors of evil and only constructive criticism, love, patience for the next man and ourselves will grow us into leaders and ambassadors for Christ.  Our words are to satisfy us and build our dreams for God, man, and ourselves.  We can’t keep on killing relationships and our dreams with our words, nor build paradise around us with them, if there not edifying.  Verse 21 says the poor man uses entreaties, meaning he thinks before he speaks to take ground, to grow whatever he has to satisfy himself and his family.  However, the wealthy let their money speak for them, turning them into prideful, arrogant beast, no matter how attractive or unattractive they may be.  Keep it real, and find a true friend in Jesus.

Blessings to all as you search for our friend Jesus,

Vincent Young, Christian Analyst.