In these verses Solomon gives us counsel on a number of matters that have to do with friendship. Throughout the Proverbs Solomon has shown a consistently high view of friendship. In life we are thrown together with many acquaintances. We have family, neighbors, people we work with and various other companions. We can’t control all of the factors that put us in relationship with others: we can, and must, decide who to allow into that select circle of people that Solomon calls “friends.”

Jesus has a knack for ruining a good thing.

He does it here – turns everyone’s bubbling affection into murderous rage. One minute they’re ready to carry him on their shoulders, the next toss him off a cliff. And he ignites that with an incendiary speech.

Sometimes Jesus’ recruitment strategies seem counter intuitive. Designed to dwindle the ranks, not swell them. Devised to chase potential donors and followers away, not attract them. There’s the Rich Young Ruler, for instance, whose resources might have been a tremendous boon to Jesus’ ministry had he finessed the conversation just a wee bit.

Are you ever critical of the people in the Bible? Look at Hophni and Phinehas, for example. They are of the priestly line, chosen by God to serve him at the temple. Their training, beginning at a young age, was the responsibility of their father, the priest Eli. Yet, they have a complete disrespect and disregard for their position and God (1 Samuel 2:12-17).

How clueless could they be?

Ever feel out of step with the world? You should. We are counter-cultural people. Our citizenship is in heaven. As such it can feel like we are swimming against the current. David laments this fact when he cries out to the Lord in Psalm 12:1, “Please help me, Lord! All who were faithful and all who were loyal have disappeared.”

In our culture talk is cheap.