Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Proverbs 18:24

Some friends play at friendship, but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin.

She was a German American actress and singer from the 1910s to the 1980s. Her name was Marlene Dietrich and the film in which she appeared that I remember the best was entitled Witness for the Prosecution. What I remember best about her was a quote that is attributed to her. Dietrich said, “It is the friends that you can call at 4 a.m. that matter the most.”

We all have friends, but not all of them would come to our aid if we called them at that hour of the morning. We desire friends that are going to stand beside us, who are going to be loyal and true, and who will be there for us regardless of the hour of the day or night.

In today’s scripture verse, Proverbs 18:24 NRSV, we learn that there are people who play at friendship. They may say that you and they are friends, but then when it comes time to demonstrate or show how much they have your back they disappoint you. They may not be there for you when you need them the most.

In the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” verse 2 asks, “Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share. Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.” Verse 3 asks, “Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.”

Prayer

Dear God, we thank You for those who call us friends and who show how loyal and true they are. Help us always to be the friends to others that we would like them to be to us. Keep us mindful that to have friends we must be friends and that our Best Friend now and forever is our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.