Tag: come to ruin

4.n. There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Job 2:11  Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Proverbs 17:17     A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24    A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Job 6:14     “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Job had recently lost all of his flocks and all of his children.  Now Satan’s attack is physically upon him.  When his friends heard of what had happened to Job they came to him and for 7 days they spoke nothing to him for he was suffering greatly. It is nice to have friends who care about you.  Who visit you in your time of trial.  Who comes to, in some way, comfort you and give you support.  Having a comforting friend around in a time of trials and troubles has a way of sharing the load of this burden together.  Their presence encourages and strengthens us, or should I say “can or will” if we are open to receive their comfort.  If we reject them, if we turn away from them, if we close our eyes and ears to their help we will not experience the comfort, strength, and encouragement they offer.  It is as if we choose to go it alone.  I am not sure if it is out of pride, shame, or some other reason but whatever the reason, some can reject the very comfort their soul and mind are searching for.

Jesus Christ said that after His death and resurrection He would go to His father and send the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) to lead us into all truth, to teach, lead, encourage, strengthen, and comfort us.  Still, it falls upon us to seek, desire, and be open to these from the Holy Spirit.  If our heart is hardened and our mind turned away and our soul standing firm in self-centered self-reliance the working of the Holy Spirit in our life is void.  We do well to confess our hardened ways and seek/desire the Holy Spirit to fill us from the inside out, softening us to the point of being able to hear, trust, and obey the whispers of truth, leading, encouragement, strength, courage, and comfort.

88. Due to their hardness of heart.

Judges 8:22   The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Exodus 23:33     They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Psalms 106:39    Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.

Hosea 4:12-14     My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.  They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your brides commit adultery.  I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes and sacrifice with cult prostitutes, and a people without understanding shall come to ruin.

Isaiah 56:11     The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.

John 8:43     Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

Romans 3:11     no one understands; no one seeks for God.

Ephesians 4:18     They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

What is it in your life that is a snare to you and possibly your family?  What occupies your thoughts and time? What sacrifices do you make so that you have time for whatever it is that occupies your thoughts and actions?  The list of what can snare us is limitless for we are very good at seeking our own interests and wants.  We are very good at giving our time and energy to that which pleases our eyes, heart, and mind.

We have been given free will to choose whom we will honor and serve.  Unfortunately many times the choice is made for self and self-interest and self-satisfaction.  The snare for each of us is different but it is rooted in the same self-interest choices that leave no place for honoring, serving, following, and obeying Jesus Christ.

Leave no room for a snare in your heart and mind.  Set your heart to humbly serve Him.  Intentionally seek to understand and know Him more and more.  Make decisions for eternity in line with that which honors and glorifies Jesus Christ.