Be A Friend & Brother

Job 6:14a  

A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends...

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one...if one falls down, his friend can help him up. If two lie down together, they will keep warm. Two can defend themselves. (Matthew 18:20) 

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 

Romans 12:10 (ESV)

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 

Romans 14:13 (HCSB)

Let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way.

Hebrews 13:1

Keep on loving one another as brothers...

St. Jerome (345-420)

A friend is long sought, hardly found, and with difficulty kept. 

Richard Sibbes 

Godly friends are walking sermons.

Can one coal alone keep itself glowing?

John Baillie on Galatians 6:1-5

Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens. Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of my brothers. Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee, O Lord.

John Beddome, Sermons Printed from the manuscripts of the late Rev. Benjamin Beddome, AM with a brief Memoir of the Author on Proverbs 18:24, ‘A man that hath friends must show himself friendly,’ “The Reciprocal Duties of Friends.”

Pious virtue is the only solid foundation for friendship, for he that is not a good man cannot be a good friend. Prayer for friends is one of the most important duties of friendship, but he is not likely to pray for us who does not pray for himself. The concerns of the soul are of the most interesting nature, but it is not probable that he will be mindful of the spiritual concerns of others who is regardless of his own. Those are the most valuable and desirable friends who are at the same time, like Abraham, the friends of God. Not the gay, sensual and profane but the serious and thoughtful, circumspect and holy whose conversation will be instructive and their example improving, whose hearts glow with love to God and whose conduct and behaviour exhibit all the beauties of the religious life. By their means we may be fortified against temptations, kept from many an hurtful snare, be convinced of sin when we have committed it and rendered more steadfast in the ways of God. As iron sharpeneth iron, says Solomon, so doth the countenance of a man his friend. We insensibly contract a likeness to those whom we choose for our companions: if they are modest and humble, we grow like them; if they are bold and impudent, we become so too.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer  Life Together

The first service one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love of God begins in listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to listen to him. 

Henri J. M. Nouwen

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face us with the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

George Muller

As to the importance of the children of God opening their hearts to each other, especially when they are getting in a cold state, or are under the power of a certain sin, or are in especial difficulty; I know from my own experience how often the snare of the devil has been broken when under the power of sin; how often the heart has been comforted when nigh to be overwhelmed; how often advice, and great perplexity, has been obtained - by opening my heart to a brother in whom I had confidence. We are children of the same family, and ought therefore to be helpers one of another. 

James Stalker  Imago Christi: The Example of Jesus Christ

Is it good for my friend that I am his friend? In the maturity of his fully formed judge­ment will he look back on the connection with approval? At the judgment seat and in eternity will he prize it?

F.B. Meyer  Our Daily Walk, August 19

We pray for our companions in life's pilgrimage. Help us to hearten them with our courage, cheer them with our love, and bear their burdens so far as we may.

William Shakespeare “Henry V”, Act IV, Scene 3, "St. Crispin's Day Speech", The English Camp, King Henry V to Westmorland, outnumbered by the French before the Battle of Agincourt 

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remember'd;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he today that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,

This day shall gentle his condition:

And gentlemen in England now a-bed

Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Rudyard Kipling “The Thousandth Man”

One man in a thousand, Solomon says.

Will stick more close than a brother.

And it's worth while seeking him half your days

If you find him before the other.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine depend

On what the world sees in you,

But the Thousandth Man will stand your friend

With the whole round world agin you.

'Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show

Will settle the finding for 'ee.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em go

By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.

But if he finds you and you find him,

The rest of the world don't matter;

For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim

With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk

Than he uses yours for his spendings,

And laugh and meet in your daily walk

As though there had been no lendings.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine of 'em call

For silver and gold in their dealings;

But the Thousandth Man he's worth 'em all

Because you can show him your feelings.

His wrong's your wrong, and his right's your right,

In season or out of season.

Stand up and back it in all men's sight

With that for your only reason!

Nine hundred and ninety-nine can't bide

The shame or mocking or laughter,

But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side

To the gallows-foot - and after!

Thomas Manton  A Practical Exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

We should never be ashamed to own him as a brother whom God will own as a son.

Abraham Kuyper

He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God.

 Hebraic Literature; Translations from the Talmud, Midrashim and Kabbala,  Maurice Henry Harris, 1943

He who seeks for a faultless brother will have to remain brotherless.