(Prov 27:9 NLT) The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Friends can be a very special part of your life. In this series we have discussed the value of Godly friends a great deal. When you surround yourself with Godly friends you will be influenced the right way (Prov 13:20), you will make better decisions because your friends will serve as a “sounding board” as you think through tough issues (Prov 11:14), your friends will help protect your character (1 Cor 15:33), and you will keep each other sharp (Prov 27:17).
God never called us to be lone rangers. I have shared with you before that we all need people to share our life experiences with. Everyone needs a Paul: a mentor, guide, someone who is already where they want to be, and who is willing to pour into them. Everyone needs a Timothy: someone they can mentor, who wants to be where they already are, and who is willing to be poured into. Everyone needs a Jonathan: someone on equal par with them, someone to share life experiences with, someone they can sharpen and to keep them sharp!
Within the context of this message I will talk about the Paul(s) and the Jonathan(s) in our lives. You may not have thought about it, but you have subconsciously given “Right of passage” those people you look up to (your Pauls) and those you respect who are on even par with you (your Jonathans). You may be thinking, what is right of passage? Let me explain. Your mind naturally filters what you hear based upon the importance you have given to the person who stated it. For example, if a person you do not consider credible makes a statement that you disagree with, you simply “blow it off.” The statement will not mean much to you, because the person did not mean much to you. However, if a person you consider credible says something you disagree with, then you will seriously consider the statement, because you respect the source. It may be that you are wrong in that area and that you need to carefully consider making a change. Stated another way, you don’t give the same amount of weight to everyone’s words. But when one of your Pauls or one of your Jonathans shares a heart felt word with you, you take what they said very seriously because you have given these people license to speak into your life. This is what I am referring to when I say “Right of passage.” So when a person you have given license to speak into your life actually does so, you receive what they said and you seriously consider it. Furthermore, when you can sense that what they said came from their heart, then it becomes even more powerful. You walk away from that experience with great counsel and with the refreshing feeling of knowing that the counsel came from someone who genuinely cares about you. Solomon says that that feeling is as sweet as perfume and incense.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. One of the greatest gifts in life is the genuine care of a true friend.
2. When you sense that a true friend shared something with you from their heart you get impacted in a special way, because heartfelt counsel is hard to find.
3. The Father uses Godly friends to help keep you on the course to His desired destination for your life!
4. When you surround yourself with the right people you will hear the right things.
Closing Confession: Father, thank You for this Word. This morning I am reminded of the value my true friends are in my life. You often speak to me through them and for that I am thankful. I am very selective about whom I allow to speak into my life, but when those select few speak into my life, from their heart, I value those heartfelt words and I give weight to what they said. I am so thankful that I don’t have to live my life alone. I am surrounded with great people and together we will help each other arrive at Your desired destination for our respective lives. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
