FRIENDSHIP (1)

A man with too many friends comes to ruin. 

Proverbs 18:24 NASB 

With few expectations, your success in life depends on your ability to establish and maintain relationship with the right people.

According to a report by American Management Association, overwhelming consensus of two hundred managers who participated in  survey, was that the most important skil of an executive is HIS or HER ABILITY TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE. They rated this ability as more vital than intelligence, decisiveness, knowledge or job skills. Quite frankly, none of us makes many very true friends in life - at least we better not. Solomon warns, 'A man with too many friends comes to ruin.'

FRIENDSHIP requires time, energy, sacrifice and investing in yourself. And not every so-called friend will prove to be one as Jeremiah warned King Hezekiah: 'They misled you and overcame you - those trusted friends of yours. Your feet are sunk in the mud; your friends have deserted you. Jeremiah 38:22. NIV 2011 EDITION. The wrong friend will betray, you as Judas proved Jesus. So, here is a good rule of thumb, 'BE FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE, BUT DONT HAVE EVERYONE AS A FRIEND'. Solomon said, 'The godly give GOOD ADVICE to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. Proverbs 12:26. Charles Spurgeon said, ' A MAN IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY HE SHUNS, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY HE KEEPS.' 

The Hebrew word for choose is TUR, and in the Old Testament it refers to a man like a surveyor who searches out land. So, if you are wise, YOU WILL EXPLORE AND EVALUATE friendship before you enter into them. You say, 'But I am lonely.' As George Washington said, 'It is better to be alone than to be in bad company.