OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY OCTOBER 20TH 2024
THEME: THE CHALLENGES OF SUCCESS II
MEMORISE:
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Proverbs 14:20
Read: Proverbs 19:4-7
4. Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.
5. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.
6. Many entreat the favour of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
7. All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
MESSAGE:
Yesterday, I started sharing about the challenges of success, and I focused on pride. Today, I will look at another major challenge of success, which is the fact that everybody wants to be friends with the successful. When you are successful, you will have many people around you, and it will be difficult to tell those that have good intentions apart from those that do not.
The mere fact that you are at the top will attract many 'friends' to you. This is why you must be careful to put your trust in God and not man. Some people will do everything to work their way into your heart just because of what they want to get from you. You will need the gift of discernment of spirits to know those that are genuine and those that are not.
In 2 Samuel 13:4-5, Jonadab advised Prince Ammon like he really cared about him. Ammon went ahead and did as he advised. When the repercussion of the evil counsel came, Jonadab did not rise up to defend his friend; he was the one who went to announce Ammon's death to David (2 Samuel 13:32-33). He told the king, "Let the king cheer up, for Ammon only is dead." If Ammon had been wise, he would have seen earlier that Jonadab was not a real friend. Real friends will not always say 'yes' to your desires. Sometimes, they will say 'no' because they care about you. When you have people who never tell you the hard truth and who will keep supporting you, even when you are clearly going the wrong way, run from such people.
The higher you go, the more careful you have to become in choosing the kind of people you allow into your life. If you are trying not to be lonely as you go higher, and you keep many friends, you will end up having many with negative intentions around you. You should have fewer friends as you go higher, not because you don't like being friendly, but because you will discover that most people care more about what you can give them than who you are to them. As a result, your circle of friends should become really small as you advance in life. For example, I had more friends when I was not yet a General Overseer than I have now.
Beloved, I pray that God will give you the grace to discern between those that are really your friends and those that are wolves in sheep's clothing.
Prayer Point:
Father, please give me the gift of discernment of spirits so that I can know who my real friends are and those that are not.
Bible in one year:
Luke 1-2
AUTHOUR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 27: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge -
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
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