Do not Weary, Your Friends!

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he has his fill of you and hate you.” Proverbs 25:17

Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all humanity together, but if we don’t know how to maintain it, it will loosen and fall apart in no time. Remember, It is easy to feel down and out when going through a tough time. And when you are feeling down, it is natural to want to talk to your friends about it. However, there is a limit to how much your friends can take.

You do not want to wear them out with your problems. Though you can talk to them as much as you need, be mindful of how much they can handle. When it comes to interacting with our friends, we should be cognizant of how much we invade their personal space. If we cross the line and become too demanding or nosy, they may start to view us as a nuisance rather than a friend. That is why today’s bible verse in Proverbs 25:17 encourages us to respect our friends’ boundaries and not overstep our bounds out of curiosity or boredom.

Proverbs 25:16 says, “If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much, and vomit it up.”

There is an adage similar to the proverbs 25:16 as well, which says, “If your friend eats honey, do not lick it all up.” In other words, never tire your friends with your issues because they have their own to worry about. Keeping one’s foot rare or rarely in a neighbor’s house is the same as keeping one’s distance. Visiting should not be excessive or unjustified; do not overstay your visit in your neighbor’s home lest having too much of thy company become bothersome and unpleasant to them, then turning their love for you into hatred. It’s important to remember that just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should. When it comes to friendships, less is often more.

Friendship is perfected and protected by the proverb, which neither constrains nor reduces it. There is no censure of pleasant and cordial conversation here; rather, presumptuous and insensitive friends are abusing their time. Friendship and genuine friendliness are praised in the Bible. If the impulse to communicate overwhelms you, go down on your knees and pray. Walking and chatting with the LORD will also benefit you greatly. If you don’t know what to pray for and your friend is in your thoughts, pray for them. Luke 6:31 says, “And as you wish others would do to you, do so to them.”

Prayer
1. Father, thank you for your grace in allowing me to stay with you for so long and for my desire to learn more about you.
2. In the name of Jesus, please help me not to be a burden to my friends and relatives, either via extended visits or problem-related. Amen