We Share Our Lives With Those Around Us – (Proverbs 17:17)

Daily Bible Study
Here the Bible is contrasting the love of a true friend, verses the love of a brother. A true friend like a brother, is always there when the need arises to help, to console, and to support in times of need as well as times of celebration. In addition, a friend is there during those ordinary times as we share our lives with one another. Whereas a brother because of family ties are there when emergency or tragedy strikes. In many cases a friend can be closer than a brother. Moreover, a brother can be our best friend and there can be no difference between the two of them because a close friend can be like a brother. And that's really the heart of the message at the center of this passage.

Here God's word speaks to us regarding the relationships we build with those around us. Especially how we relate to one another within the family of God, which is the church. In many cases brothers share our lives as well as our friends. In this passage the Bible is not placing one above the other. Rather, what the Bible is doing is once again showing us yet another aspect of the life we live as children of God. And as a friend, as a brother in Christ, we are to be there for those we love in all stages of life and through all the events we experience living in this fallen world. Throughout our lives, we can choose to be either a casual friend or we can foster that friendship until it turns into a brotherhood. The choice is ours alone to make. The question is when someone looks back at their friendship with us, will they be able to say this verse is true for the relationship we had with them?