Friend Who Sticks Closer
02/28/2026
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” — Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
There is something deeply human about the desire for friendship. From childhood playgrounds to boardrooms, from hospital rooms to church pews, we long for someone who will stay. Not someone who shows up when it’s convenient, but someone who stands firm when life gets heavy.
Proverbs tells us plainly: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin…” The Hebrew picture here carries the idea of being crushed or broken apart. It’s possible to be surrounded by people and still be alone. It’s possible to have contacts and not have covenant. We can mistake familiarity for faithfulness.
I was with a group of men one day discussing today’s verse. One of them talked about a time he and his family moved across town. On moving day, the driveway was full. Trucks lined the street. People laughed, carried boxes, snapped pictures. There were plenty of hands when it was light work and good conversation.
He went on saying that a few months later, after the boxes were unpacked and the excitement faded, only two friends from that moving group had come back to sit on the couch.
That’s the difference between crowd and covenant.
It’s easy to show up when something is new, exciting, or visible. It’s harder to stay when the work becomes ordinary, when life feels heavy, when there’s nothing to post about. Friendly fills the driveway. Faithful sits on the couch.
And Proverbs reminds us that what we really need and what we’re really called to become. We are called to be the kind of friend who stays long after the boxes are unpacked.
“But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
That phrase “sticks closer” means to cling, to hold fast, to refuse to let go. It’s covenant language. Ultimately, it points us to Jesus. He is the Friend who does not withdraw when we fail. He does not retreat when we struggle. He does not distance Himself when we are at our worst.
While others may drift, He draws near.
Think of Peter after denying Christ. While others might have labeled him unreliable, Jesus reinstated him. Think of Thomas in his doubt. Jesus did not shame him; He invited him closer. Think of you—on your best days and your worst days. The Friend who sticks closer is still there.
And here’s the beautiful challenge of this proverb: not only do we receive that kind of friendship from Christ, but we are called to become that kind of friend to others.
In a world of surface-level connections, be someone who stays. In a culture of convenience, choose commitment. In moments of tension, lean in instead of walking away.
Action Steps:
• Reach out today to someone who may feel alone and let them know you are there.
• Evaluate your friendships. Are you cultivating depth or just activity?
• Spend intentional time with Jesus today, thanking Him for His unshakable presence.
Today’s Challenge:
Be the friend who sticks. Refuse to be seasonal in someone else’s life. Show up, pray hard, listen well, and love deeply.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Friend who never leaves or forsakes me. When others fail me or I fail them, You remain faithful. Teach me to reflect Your steadfast love in my relationships. Help me to be reliable, committed, and present. Let my life demonstrate covenant love in a world that often chooses convenience. In Your name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” — Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
There is something deeply human about the desire for friendship. From childhood playgrounds to boardrooms, from hospital rooms to church pews, we long for someone who will stay. Not someone who shows up when it’s convenient, but someone who stands firm when life gets heavy.
Proverbs tells us plainly: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin…” The Hebrew picture here carries the idea of being crushed or broken apart. It’s possible to be surrounded by people and still be alone. It’s possible to have contacts and not have covenant. We can mistake familiarity for faithfulness.
I was with a group of men one day discussing today’s verse. One of them talked about a time he and his family moved across town. On moving day, the driveway was full. Trucks lined the street. People laughed, carried boxes, snapped pictures. There were plenty of hands when it was light work and good conversation.
He went on saying that a few months later, after the boxes were unpacked and the excitement faded, only two friends from that moving group had come back to sit on the couch.
That’s the difference between crowd and covenant.
It’s easy to show up when something is new, exciting, or visible. It’s harder to stay when the work becomes ordinary, when life feels heavy, when there’s nothing to post about. Friendly fills the driveway. Faithful sits on the couch.
And Proverbs reminds us that what we really need and what we’re really called to become. We are called to be the kind of friend who stays long after the boxes are unpacked.
“But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
That phrase “sticks closer” means to cling, to hold fast, to refuse to let go. It’s covenant language. Ultimately, it points us to Jesus. He is the Friend who does not withdraw when we fail. He does not retreat when we struggle. He does not distance Himself when we are at our worst.
While others may drift, He draws near.
Think of Peter after denying Christ. While others might have labeled him unreliable, Jesus reinstated him. Think of Thomas in his doubt. Jesus did not shame him; He invited him closer. Think of you—on your best days and your worst days. The Friend who sticks closer is still there.
And here’s the beautiful challenge of this proverb: not only do we receive that kind of friendship from Christ, but we are called to become that kind of friend to others.
In a world of surface-level connections, be someone who stays. In a culture of convenience, choose commitment. In moments of tension, lean in instead of walking away.
Action Steps:
• Reach out today to someone who may feel alone and let them know you are there.
• Evaluate your friendships. Are you cultivating depth or just activity?
• Spend intentional time with Jesus today, thanking Him for His unshakable presence.
Today’s Challenge:
Be the friend who sticks. Refuse to be seasonal in someone else’s life. Show up, pray hard, listen well, and love deeply.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Friend who never leaves or forsakes me. When others fail me or I fail them, You remain faithful. Teach me to reflect Your steadfast love in my relationships. Help me to be reliable, committed, and present. Let my life demonstrate covenant love in a world that often chooses convenience. In Your name, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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