Friendship in Proverbs

Friendship in Proverbs In his book called “Bowling Alone”, Robert Putnam writes about the need for increased civic engagement and more significant interpersonal connection. He tells the story of friends John Lambert and Andy Boschma. Before October 29, 1997, John Lambert and Andy Boschma knew each other only through their local bowling league at the Ypsi-Arbor Lanes in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Lambert, a sixtyfour-year-old retired employee of the University of Michigan hospital, had been on a kidney transplant waiting list for three years when Boschma, a thirty-three-year-old accountant, learned casually of Lambert's need and unexpectedly approached him to offer to donate one of his own kidneys. "Andy saw something in me that others didn't," said Lambert. "When we were in the hospital Andy said to me, 'John, I really like you and have a lot of respect for you. I wouldn't hesitate to do this all over again.' I got choked up." [Lambert said] Boschma returned the feeling: "I obviously feel a kinship [with Lambert]. I cared about him before, but now I'm really rooting for him." What Putnam rightly observed is that the heartfelt story displays the simple power of a friendship developed at a bowling league to overcome what he describes as the typical divisions of age and race. And he goes on to say, in small ways like this — and in larger ways, too — we Americans need to reconnect with one another. In my life personally, friendships have challenged my weaknesses, corrected misperceptions, provided examples of selflessness, lightened burdens, increased joys, and on some special occasions been the conduits of experiencing God’s grace and presence. Friendship always feels like a difficult topic to address with adults. Proverbs has a great deal to say about it, that is for certain. But here in our context I find that the very idea of friendship among adults is not a pleasant topic at all. Most people seem to feel like they have few real friends, and the pace of life does not seem to lend to solving the problem any time soon. For this reason I believe a lot of people are tempted to settle for unsatisfying levels of friendship and through a variety of reasons have determined never to take the risk of working for something more. But we need friendship. If we are going to change, and come to see and know the goodness and glory of God, we must have friends that help us see life in ways we will never see for ourselves. I cannot find you any friends, but as I studied through Proverbs I was surprised how often the topic of friendship came up. So according to Proverbs, What will cause our friendships to flourish rather than deteriorate? 1. Our friendships Flourish when we show up in difficulty. Friendship is strengthened when we show up in difficult times. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV)