The Strand Study Bible
PROVERBS
976
PROVERBS
17:17 Solomon made seven observations concerning friendship, which is based upon commitment ( at all times ): 1. Real friendship is an honest friendship (Prov 27:5-6) A real friend talks to you, not about you. Oscar Wilde, Irish writer ( The Picture of Dorian Gray ) and poet, noted correctly: True friends stab you in the front. 1 A real friend is an honest friend. He’ll never get in your way unless you happen to be going down. 2. Real friendship learns to avoid those things that might irritate the friendship (Prov 27:14) No one is a friend who rubs you the wrong way (Job 6:14). 3. Real friendship never forsakes a friendship (Prov 27:10, II Sam 15:6,13 and Mt 11:19 & 20:13 & 22:12) Radio and newspaper commentator, Walter Winchell, once noted: A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. 2 4. Real friendship is loyal to truth, not the friendship (Psa 35:11-14/Prov 25:21-22 and Jn 15:13-14) Truth is always your best friend. 5. Real friendship is never a partial friendship ( SOS 1:2a , Prov 17:17 and Job 42:10) 6. Real friendship produces real friendships (Prov 18:24 and Jn 11:11) If you want the real thing, be the real thing; be a friend before you need a friend and you’ll have the friend you want (II Chro 20:7/Isa 41:8). 7. Real friendship always improves the friendship (Prov 27:17) NOTE – No one needs a friendship to be a friend ( Mt 26:50 ). 17:22 There is truth to the statement that a person can often laugh his way to health ( A merry heart doeth good like a medicine – Prov 12:25 & 15:13,15). Actor Robin Williams, who played Patch Adams in the movie ‘ Patch ,’ noted: The American Journal of Medicine has found that laughter increases secretion of catecholamines and endorphins, which in turn increases oxygenation of the blood, relaxes the arteries, speeds up the heart, decreases blood pressure, which has a positive effect on all cardiovascular and respiratory ailments, as well as overall increasing the immune system response. 3 17:28a The first step to wisdom is silence ( when he holdeth his peace ); the second is listening (Prov 9:9). Ben Franklin wisely noted: He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees. 4 17:28b Will Rogers (1879-1935), known to the world as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son,” was right when he said: Never miss a good chance to shut up. 5 18:2 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: A fool never learns; he only lives to air out his opinions ( but that his heart may discover itself ) 18:6 Truly, a fool’s mouth invites beatings ( calleth for strokes ). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Those who think by the inch and talk by the yard are eventually kicked by the foot 18:7 Unless you want to orchestrate the best speech you’ll ever regret ( A fool’s mouth is his destruction ), don’t speak when angry ( A fool’s lips enter into contention – vs 6). 18:18 The “ lot ” was God’s way of saying, “This is how I want things settled.” The lot was a picture of God’s Word; His absolutes. The lot was God’s guideline for every conflict in life. It allowed for harmony to be restored within relationships (Prov 16:33). 18:19 Maya Angelou, American author and poet, once noted: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. 6 18:22 According to God, discovering the right mate begins with a “search” ( Whoso findeth ). Question: What would you search for in a mate? Would you look for character? Honor? Humility? Similar interests? Compatibility? Active in a local church? Honesty? Good work ethic? Countenance (whole presence)? Sense of humor? Good habits? Person of their word? Caring? Good looking? NOTE – According to the Bible, God wants us to look for seven things in a mate. He wants us to look for (in order): 1. virtue (the want to do right – Prov 12:4 & 31:10-31/Ruth 3:11 and Acts 10:35 ) Of the seven characteristics virtue should be the most sought after when looking for a mate ( II Pet 1:5 ). 2. wisdom (applied knowledge – Prov 2:1-6 & 19:14, I Cor 7:39 and II Cor 6:14) 3. homemaker/home-maker (building character where you live; temperance – Prov 14:1, I Tim 5:14, Titus 2:4-5 and Psa 127) 4. quietness (patience – Prov 17:1, Eccl 4:6, I Tim 2:9-12, II Thess 3:12-14 and I Pet 3:1-4) 5. morality (God-like; godliness – Prov 5-7 & 11:22) 6. graciousness (kindness – Prov 1:8-9 & 11:16 and Joel 2:13/Jonah 4:1-2) 7. non-argumentative (getting along with others; love – Prov 15:1,18 & 16:28 & 17:14,19 & 19:13 & 20:3 & 21:9,19 & 25:24 & 26:17,20-21 & 27:15,16 & 28:25/Jn 13:34-35)
1 ”Oscar Wilde.” BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. 6 February 2014.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker