Proverbs 17:15-28
A friend loves at all times,
Proverbs 17:17
and a brother is born for adversity.
“Friend”. That is a word that gets used quite a lot in today’s world. We have even turned it from a noun into a verb, so we can readily “friend” someone on social media. And we can even more readily “unfriend” them — which should tell us something! So what is a “friend” really? And what is a “brother” really?
This proverb is more than just observational; it is definitional. That is, this proverb tells us what a true friend or brother is: one who loves at all times and who sticks by through adversity. Such friends (and brothers and sisters) are far more rare than the acquaintances or buddies that we usually mean when we toss the word “friend” around. What kinds of friends do you have? Perhaps more importantly, what kind of friend are you?
Regardless of those in your social circle, one thing is certain: there is One Who loves at all times and Who was indeed born for adversity, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13 (NIV)
Thank you, John, for focusing on the meaning of a true friend, the friend we have in Jesus most particularly.
I am still a bit confused by the second half of this verse. What exactly does it mean that a brother is “born for adversity”? Are all brothers doomed to have strife with each other?
Personally, my family was such a failure that I have two brothers, neither of whom I know where they are or how they are… (I know in what state each lives, if they’re still alive.)
However, God has blessed me with several really true friends, and I hope I can pattern myself on their actions, for they truly “love at all times.”
I would suggest that “born for adversity” might mean something like “available as a friend for times of adversity”.
Fred is on the right track. In Pr. 17:17, “friend” and “brother” are seen in parallel (i.e., nearly synonymous), not in contrast. And hence a true brother is one who is faithful through adversity — and such a one may not be physically related. So, for example, I would say that Jonathan was more of a brother to David than all the other sons of Jesse.
Oh, duh! Now I get it… 😂