Proverbs 17:17 New Living Translation
17 A friend is always loyal,
and a brother is born to help in time of need.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Saint Valentine’s life is a powerful example of what it means to love at all times.
In the third century, when Roman Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriages for young men — believing that single strong men made for much better soldiers — Valentine, instead, chose to act out of love rather than fear.
As a priest, Valentine defied this unjust rule by marrying people in secret.
But this led to him going to prison.
Valentine befriended his jailer, Asterious, and Asterious became impressed by Valentine’s wisdom.
So, Asterious asked Valentine to help educate his blind daughter, Julia.
Valentine quickly agreed, and he became a friend and mentor to Julia as well, as he read to her and guided her studies. Valentine’s character as a true friend intrigued Emperor Claudius so much that he offered to free Valentine from prison if he would publicly renounce Christianity and embrace Roman gods.
However, Valentine refused. He shared the Gospel with Claudius instead.
Unfortunately, Claudius responded to Valentine’s loving choice by sentencing Valentine to death for his faith.
Before his execution, Valentine wrote a note to Julia, urging her to remain strong in her faith and thanking her for their friendship.
He signed the note simply, “From your Valentine.”
That loving note from a friend during a time of intense adversity inspired the tradition of exchanging loving messages on February 14, the day of Valentine’s martyrdom.
Eventually, that tradition grew to become the St. Valentine’s Day holiday we know today.
Are you willing to love sacrificially, as Valentine did?
As Proverbs 17:17 rightly points out, true friends stand by one another in every situation – even the most challenging circumstances that are full of adversity.
True friends inspire hope and draw one another closer to God at all times.
If you’re authentically willing to love your friends no matter what, God’s love will flow through your friendships, strengthening you all.
Two famous friends from the Bible – David and Jonathan – showed what this looks like. Jonathan risked his own life to protect David. He gave David his loyal friendship even when he had to openly defy his father, King Saul, to do so.
In the end, by remaining friends even through tragedies, all worked out for the best for their faith. Just like Valentine’s friendships, the friendship between David and Jonathan revealed a BFF friend is 100% loyal in all circumstances, BFFs loves at all times – even when a friendship is tested during difficult times.
Here are some key ways you can love at all times in your own friendships.:
- Pray for your friends. When you lift your friends to God in prayer, God will answer your prayers and bless your friends with whatever is best for them.
- Be fully present when your friends are going through challenges. Being there for your friends when they need you the most shows them that you truly care. Ask them what you can do for them, and then go beyond your best to give them whatever you can, whenever you can – such as practical help – running errands, grocery shopping, preparing meals careful listening, and encouragement.
- Don’t let adversity distance you from your friends. If you’re going through a challenge, don’t neglect your friendships. Stay in touch and be honest with your friends about what you need. If you encounter a conflict with a friend, please do whatever you can to resolve the conflict and forgive each other for mistakes. Try your best to understand each other and care for each other, so you can enjoy friendship and peace between you. Always seek God’s best for each other.
- Celebrate good times together as well as helping each other during difficult times. Cheer each other on when you and your friends should experience God’s blessings, and congratulate each other on your successes. Encourage each other continuously, constantly, to find joy every day in your relationships with God.
Friendships are too often superficial in this fallen world.
This Valentine’s Day, choose to pursue friendships that reflect God’s deep love.
True friendship will sometimes require you to make sizable sacrifices, but those sacrifices are worth it, because God will bring something that has eternal value out of your efforts. Choose to be a friend who loves at all times. When you do, you can look forward to God’s love flowing through your life in powerful ways!
Intersecting Faith and Life:
As you consider how to be a friend, how to be a Proverbs 17:17 friend, who loves at all times, reflect on these questions:
- Are you present and supportive when your friends face challenges (however serious, however severe, or do you shy away from uncomfortable situations?
- Do you verbally forgive your friends, ask forgiveness from God when they make mistakes, when you make mistakes and try to resolve conflicts between you? Do you have humility to ask your friends to forgive you when you make mistakes?
- How can you show more sacrificial love in your friendships when your friends need you?
- In what ways can you better encourage your friends’ faith, spiritual growth?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 Authorized (King James) Version
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 