Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.… Bacon says, "To be without friends is to find the world a wilderness." It is only a mean man that can be contented alone. A trusty friend is one of earth's greatest blessings. Alas, for the dire contagion of evil friendships! Washington said, "Be courteous to all, intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence." Stick to your friend. He can never have any true friends who is often changing them. Bring your friend to a proper understanding of himself. Persuade him of his follies. Phocion said truly to Antipater, "I cannot be both your friend and flatterer." True friendship cannot exist between bad men. True friendship is tested in the hour of adversity. Wait until you are in trouble, and many a professed friend will be shy of you and give you the dead cut. Many people expect too much from their friends. There is an old saying that "Friends, like fiddle-strings, must not be screwed too tight." Friendships are often productive of mischief because they are not governed by wisdom and prudence. He is our best friend who is a friend to our soul. Give a wide berth to the sneering sceptic. Have for your bosom friends men who will "strengthen your hand in God," who will foster your piety and make you wiser, better, and holier men. In Christ alone the proverb at the heading of this outline finds its fullest verification. (M. C. Peters.) Parallel Verses KJV: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.WEB: Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend's countenance. |
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