“And a brother is born for adversity …”

Journeys Through the Word

“And a brother is born for adversity …” 

Verse(s) considered:

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Immediate context: 

For today’s context, I am choosing some verses from the Gospel of John because Jesus is always our best example of a brother.

John 15:12-17 ESV

(12)  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

(13)  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

(14)  You are my friends if you do what I command you.

(15)  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

(16)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

(17)  These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Additional context for consideration:

Romans 5:7-8 ESV

(7)  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

(8)  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thoughts along the road: (Observations) 

• The love of a brother is seen here as something that will undergo trials—adversity.
• A brother, a true brother is one of either a blood relation, a spiritual relation, or a deep friendship. It is a deep bond that is not either easily forged or broken. 
• With Jesus as our example, he calls us friends if we do what he commands.
• If we are his friends, then we are spending time with him regularly—daily.
• If we are being obedient to him and commune with him continuously, then it seems that he will go beyond the surface-level friendship with him and call us brothers. That is how it seems to be for the disciples that have followed him, and he is addressing this in John 15. At this point in the gospel, it is very near the end of Jesus’ ministry, and they have stuck with him through thick and thin.
  • He is telling them that they are more than servants or friends. They are brothers. They are in on his mission with him, and we know that he will be passing the work onto them after his death, resurrection, and ascension. 
  • So he is also telling them that he is in it all the way for them, too. Look at the verses that precede this declaration where he talks about “no greater love.”
  • That is why I think that Jesus is our best model for friendship—and servanthood.
• Paul shows us Jesus’ intent, in other words stating that he died for us—while we were yet sinners so that we could become his friends and brothers.
  • He chose us while we were still sinners and, through his death and resurrection, enabled us to become what we could never do on our own.

Where to go from here: (Application)

We are tasked with emulating our savior. We are to emulate his actions of love in all that we do. 

How can we do that on a daily basis? 

Spend time with your friends. Maybe not every single day, but regularly.

Stay in touch with them. Phone calls, texts, etc …

How can we be that friend? 

Make sure that when hard times come that you are first in line to offer whatever help you can. 

But, most of all. stay present in your friends lives.

Pray for them, regularly.

If they are Christians, discuss spiritual topics with them. Share things you discover about God in your quiet time and encourage them to do the same. Encourage their walk with the Lord. Be mutually accountable. Remember that iron sharpens iron. 

If they do not know the Lord, be an example of Godly love and be ready to share the gospel with them when an opportunity presents itself. They may reject it, but don’t give up on them.