Parenting By The Book Article

STUDY 204

Proverbs 19

Dear Parents,

GUIDANCE ON THE SUBJECT OF FRIENDSHIP

It is good and healthy to see our children cultivate friendship! They may not have all the discernment and wisdom to know how to choose good friends. Parents possess the great privilege of teaching and guiding their children concerning how they may cultivate good friendship.

FRIENDSHIP OF THE WORLD

The world has its definition of friendship. The following text is a candid description of how the world makes and breaks friendship.

"Wealth makes friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend." Proverbs 19:4

1. Wealth and friendship

This is one of the first lessons our children need to learn about the world's way of looking at friendship.

a) Where people try and curry favour with the wealthy
People are attracted to wealth. The poor and the struggling wish to make friends with the wealthy in the hope that they might be in their good books.

b) Where the wealthy attempt to purchase friendship
Not all who are wealthy are good at making friends. However, the shrewd wealthy know that their riches can help them obtain "friends." They make use of their wealth for such purposes

2. The basis of friendship

Our children need to be taught how to evaluate friendship. The following is a helpful list of things that we could give to our children to help them figure out how friendships should be formed. Two things may be highlighted:-

a) Friendship should not be based on wealth

b) Wealth should not be used to "purchase" friendship

THE SAD ESTATE OF THE POOR

What about the poor? How do they make friends? The sad state of affairs is that many poor people find that they are virtually friendless. They have no money to go out with friends. They have nothing much, in terms of material things, to offer others. Sometimes, the poor actually end up losing friends instead of gaining new ones! Teach children that poverty should not be the basis for forming friendship!

Prayerfully,

Pastor Charlie