Faithful Friends

A kind mouth multiplies friends and appeases enemies, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant. When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him. For one sort is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress. 

Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame. Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes. When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants; But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you. Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends. 

A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.

Sirach is wise. We all seek friends and good, long-lasting friendships.   We all need shelters and life-saving remedies to our distress.  Unfortunately, some of our friends can be false, and those falsehoods can be revealed in social media.   

As Sirach says, “Let (y)our acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand (y)our confidant.”   Let’s choose wisely.

Deacon David Pierce