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Prov. 27:5-6 - Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. NASU
If we will be honest we have probably all had some dumb ideas and very glad we didn't take it to the next step because if we had failure was right around the corner. A friend is one who looks you right in the eyes and challenges you or as verse 5 says, they will "openly rebuke" you. This Hebrew word for rebuke means to challenge, prove, or reason. They will challenge you, ask you to prove it, or ask you to reason with them on this?
Friends will challenge you and you may even feel like you have been knifed with their questions. One thing we can all use is a friend who tries to keep us from falling but if we do fall he is there to help pick us up. Your friends won't always agree with every choice you make but they will remain your friend. Friends listen to what you say and will not always agree with everything you say. But they always are there when you need them to listen. Hopefully, in your life, you have at least one friend like this.
They will listen to what you are saying before they give you any feedback. Most of us already know what I am saying is true, but still, we find ourselves being surrounded by the wrong type of people and listening to the wrong type of friend. As Christmas gets closer give yourself the best gift possible, a Great Friend. Think on These: It is best to test new ideas on old friends. If you were another person, Would you like to be a friend of yours? Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Numbers 22:27-33 - When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No."
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. "But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live." NASU
We couldn't see this purchase was going to end up being a loss of money, our parents did and they were not able to talk us out of buying it. Balaam couldn't see the Angel of the Lord, but his donkey could see the Angel. The Angel had his sword drawn and was ready to use it, but the donkey saved Balaam's life by lying down under him. How was he repaid for saving Balaam's life? Balaam in a fit of rage beat his donkey with a stick. Hopefully, this doesn't sound familiar? Hopefully, you have not lashed out at someone who was trying to help you. Did you know your best friend is going to be one who sees things objectively and will honestly share with you their unbiased opinion?
His donkey wants to know why he has been treated so harshly for saving his life? Have you ever treated a friend harshly for telling you the truth? You couldn't see what he/she was seeing because you didn't want to see it. You were making a decision based on your subjectivity. The Lord opens the eyes of Balaam and allows him to see the Angel of the Lord with His drawn sword. The Angel informs him if it hadn't been for his donkey He would have killed him.
Balaam was not listening to God and it almost cost him his life. What about us? Are we listening to God or the people He sends to speak with us? Is God trying to get our attention? God used Balaam's donkey to speak to him. Who is God trying to use to speak to us? I would like to share some words of wisdom from the book of Proverbs 27:6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. We all need a friend who will tell us the truth even though it hurts for it is better than being lied to by so-called friends. The lie may make you feel good at the time but it will bring pain that could have been avoided. Think About This: "When a person with experience meets a person with money, the person with experience will get the money. And the person with the money will get the experience." - Leonard Lauder Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 2 Kings 5:11-14 - But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.' "Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?"
So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean. NASU
He was the captain of the army of Aram. He was considered a great man, he was highly respected and he was a valiant warrior. It would be easy to see how this man could be a little puffed up with pride. Naaman only has one problem. He has leprosy. He has heard he can be cured if he could make contact with the prophet of Israel who is in Samaria. So he receives permission from the king to go and connect with this prophet.
What Elisha did was not what Naaman had envisioned. Naaman thought the prophet would come out and meet him after all he is a great man in Aram. Elisha doesn't respond the way Naaman thought he would. He tells him through a messenger to go dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman becomes furious because Elisha doesn't heal Naaman the way he thought he would be healed and he goes away enraged.
Elisha, through a messenger, tells Naaman to go dip himself in the Jordan River seven times and be healed. Naaman doesn't want to do this he wants to argue about his two rivers in Damascus being better than the Jordan River. He departs in a rage. His servants approach him and speak logically to him. They ask him a question, "If the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?" The answer to their question is "Yes, he would have done it." They convince him to do what the prophet said and when he does he is healed of his leprosy.
Naaman did and because they weren't afraid to confront him he was healed of his leprosy. Friends like this are rare but count yourself blessed if you have even one. Think On This: A true friend thinks of you when all others are thinking of themselves. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1 Samuel 14:6-7 - Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few."His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself, and here I am with you according to your desire." NASB
One thing life has taught me is we all need one friend who will protect our back. We all need what I call a "Back to Back Brother." A "Back to Back Brother" is one you can always count on especially when you are in one of life's battles.
The Lord is not constrained to save by many or by few. What a powerful declaration of one's faith. Jonathan didn't need the Israeli Army to conquer the Philistines. God could use Jonathan and his armor bearer and He will do exactly that.
The armor bearer tells Jonathan "turn yourself" or in other words take off towards the Philistines for I am right behind you. The armor bearer was saying, "where you go, I go." I have been blessed in my life to have had a few friends exactly like this armor bearer. Friends who have had my back when I like Jonathan desired to do something crazy for the Lord. To my "Back to Back Brothers and Sisters" I say sincerely, "Thanks for your amazing trustworthiness." You know who you are and I could not have accomplished what I accomplished without you having my back.
Think On These: We are on the wrong track when we think of friendship as something to get - rather than something to give. A loyal friend is one who sticks up for you even when you are not there. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 1 Cor. 15:33 - Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." NASU
Prov. 13:20 - He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Prov. 13:20 - Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. (from THE MESSAGE)
We know that associating with the wrong people can have an influence on them exactly like it can have an influence on us. We know both parents and children can be influenced by bad examples and that is why it is important to associate with people who are of good reputable character. To be perfectly clear, a bad example in my mind is a person who is negative, lazy, always worrying, believes everyone else gets all the breaks in life, doesn't trust in God, abuses alcohol and drugs and doesn't do good to others.
Studies have been done on the affect of one negative person in the work place. When that person is out sick or on vacation the atmosphere in the work place will become positive and lively. Once that person returns it goes back to being an unhappy place filled with tension and conflict. As you can see the Bible doesn't place an age limit on this warning. It is not just for those in their teen years or twenties. These verses are for people of all ages. You associate with the wrong person or crowd and you will pay the price for this association.
Year ago Bill Gates was asked that question, “What is one of your main formulas for success?” Without blinking an eye he said “Hiring smart people as well as surrounding yourself with smart people.” It should not surprise us then that one of Bill's closest friends is Warren Buffet. Warren Buffet is one of America's most respected men in the financial arena. Surrounding yourself with the right people will help you on the road to success.
When Magic Johnson and Larry Bird stepped on to the basketball court they challenged each other to be the best. Do you have someone challenging you to be your best?
So how do you move on in life? Find new places to go where you can mentally and spiritually grow or in other words "change your environment". This is what worked for me. When I was in my mid 20's I realized that my life wasn't going anywhere. I had already spent time in jail for possession of drugs. I left that environment and found new friends and a new life in Christ. If I can do it then you can do it. Think on This: It has been said, "You can't change your friends, but you can change friends." Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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