“A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17
- Do I love at all times?
- Am I a faithful friend?
- Do time, schedules, and commitments handicap my ability and availability to love well?
- Do I leave margin, so I am available?
All good questions for self-evaluation as we ponder the truth found in Proverbs 17:17.
As recipients of love, we certainly want to be loved at all times. And when life is full, stressful, and challenging, we are especially grateful when caring friends see our plight and lean in to offer love in practical ways. Often, our load is lightened immeasurably when a friend loves on us with a roast for dinner, a kind note of encouragement, cleaning our bathrooms, childcare, offering a listening ear, or the power of prayer (to name just a few).
We want to be – we love to be and long to be – loved on at all times by others.
But the question is: do we release love at all times?
The writer of Proverbs goes on to make clear the specific kinds of “all times” he is referring to: “adversity.”
Adversity means challenging circumstances, difficult situations, and uncomfortable conditions. I think he’s talking pain here. It might be emotional, physical, mental, relational, or financial. It may be chronic or temporary. But if adversity is anything, it is usually painful.
Regardless of the type or timing of pain, this passage makes it clear that being born into the family (and let’s count “sister” as well as “brother” here) means we show up at all times, and especially times of adversity. Family might be physical family, but as followers of Christ we are born again into the family of God. The body of believers becomes our own extended family.
Putting our love on means showing up. It can be uncomfortable, awkward, depressing, and certainly it will be inconvenient. It might be messy (physically or emotionally). It might not smell good, sound good, or be good. But when love leads out, we are propelled forward to walk – even run –in the path of love.
Paul challenges us in Romans 12:1-2, to “offer [our] bodies as living sacrifices” and then in the very next chapter he exhorts, “let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another.” You may have a Ph.D from Financial Peace University and have cut up every credit card you own, but you will never be out of debt when it comes to the obligation to love others! Releasing love yesterday satisfied yesterday’s debt, but today is a new day.
As the summer draws to a close and we prepare our children for yet another school year, we are most likely mapping out schedules, purchasing books, and evaluating extracurricular activities. But are we also preparing them to be good friends and faithful family members? Are we training them in what it means to love well at all times, and also modeling that behavior for them?
We know, of course, that most (if not all) things are better caught than taught. That means I’m called to intentionally, deliberately, strategically do some out-loud loving on others in my life … and to pull my children alongside as I do it.
Love is best served up as an action. It’s good to say, “I love you” and everyone delights in getting a note of encouragement. But let’s consider how we can truly release love by showing up, expending some time and muscle, making the sacrifice, in order to be a blessing. How can we walk in love?
As we lean into loving, we may also – amazingly, and perhaps surprisingly – discover the truth of another Biblical passage: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
Are you ready to start behaving like a member of the family? Are you ready to put your love on and live it out loud?
Join us for the rest of August as we focus on
the ‘ABCs of Scripture’ in this month’s Write The Word.
Download your FREE bookmarks, S.O.A.P. study pages,
& a special feature this month, daily verse cards
with each of the 31 scriptures from the bookmark!
Don’t forget about our August give-away!
Take a picture showing how you’ve incorporated this month’s theme into your family or homeschooling.
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At the end of August, we’ll choose one of your photos, and the winner will receive a beautiful journal from DaySpring.
