Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Memorise: Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in
a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. Micah
7:5
Read: Micah 7:2-7
A king is a prime target in any war between two kingdoms.
The moment he is captured, all his subjects become captives of the victorious
king. In Hosea 10:13-15, the Lord told Israel that their expectation for
national defence through their men of war would fail and their king would die.
It is wrong to invest your expectations, hopes and aspirations in your leader,
or men of wealth. They will fail you.
Another reason expectations are disappointed is when they
are placed on friends. The truth is those individuals most people take as
friend are not truly their friends. Some people may be close to you because of
mutual interest. These are your associates. By reason of further interactions,
you could see them as friends but do you know their hearts? True friends will
express a love that is stronger than that of blood brothers (Proverbs 18:24).
Also, a true friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17). David and Jonathan
were true friends and they were ready to do anything to protect their friendship.
When you become rich, some people will attach themselves to you and some of
them will be suckers – those who just want to benefit from your wealth
(Proverbs 19:4; 14:20). You will be making a mistake to think such people are
friends. The day your wealth disappears, so will they. Then there are those who
associate with you because you are of the same social status. To this end, the
rich befriend rich people like themselves, but in their midst there is a lot of
rivalry, envy and competition. Those you are richer than or those you are more
brilliant than as a student or those you are prettier than as a lady would
secretly be wishing that something would happen that will dwindle your
competence and make them better than you. Yet you think they are your friends
and you tell them your secrets. Why will such “friends” not be happy to
disappoint you when you really need them, especially if that would help them
have an edge over you? So Micah 7:5 warns that you do not put your trust in
your friends. The only friend you can have that will always be with you and
will never betray you is Jesus Christ. As you receive Him into your heart
today, He will be always with you, helping you in all you do. He is genuinely
interested in every area of your life so do not hide anything from Him.
KEY POINT:
If you have all the friends in the world but do not have
Jesus Christ as your friend, you will never experience what true friendship is.
Bible in one year: Psalms 34-36
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