(箴言 18:24)
“濫交朋友的，自取敗壞．但有一朋友，比弟兄更親密。”
這裡其實指出了兩種類型的朋友。在希伯來原文中，濫交朋友的「朋友」是用複數，意思是數量很多、多如繁星。然而，這種「濫交」的結果卻是自取敗壞，在原文中帶有互相踐踏、互相傷害的意思，這是一個很差的結局。相反地，經文後半句提到的「一朋友」，在原文中指的是一種非常親密、甚至超越血緣和兄弟姊妹關係的知己。
這在現今這個互聯網時代特別值得我們反思。在Facebook、Instagram上，我們往往追求擁有無數的追隨者和朋友，每發一個貼文都渴望得到很多讚好，從中獲得快樂和滿足。但大家不妨想一想，在這些網絡朋友當中，究竟有多少人是能與你深交的？甚至有些可能根本素未謀面。我們很多時候追求朋友的數量，但這些數量往往是虛幻的。當你真正需要幫忙，或是處於人生低谷時，這些所謂的朋友可能就會四散，甚至反過來傷害你。
我們真正需要的，是一個真正的知己。朋友的重點不在於數量，而在於質量。如果你身邊能有一位朋友、願意在你有困難時義不容辭伸出援手，那已經非常足夠。
更重要的是，這位「比弟兄更親密」的朋友，其實也預表了耶穌。耶穌與我們的關係是最緊密的，我們一生應當追求與祂建立這樣的關係。
(Proverbs 18:24)
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
This actually points out two types of friends. In the original Hebrew, the “friends” in “having friends” is in the plural form, meaning a vast number, as numerous as the stars. However, the result of this “indiscriminate friend-making” is bringing ruin upon oneself, which carries the meaning of trampling upon and hurting each other in the original text, leading to a very poor ending. On the contrary, the “a friend” mentioned in the second half of the verse refers in the original text to a confidant who is extremely close, even transcending the bonds of blood relations and siblings.
This is particularly worth our reflection in today’s internet age. On Facebook and Instagram, we often pursue having countless followers and friends, and with every post we make, we long to receive many likes, deriving happiness and satisfaction from it. But we might as well think about how many of these online friends can actually develop a deep relationship with you. Some may even be people you have never met at all. We often pursue the quantity of friends, but these numbers are usually illusory. When you truly need help or are at a low point in your life, these so-called friends might scatter, or even turn around and hurt you.
What we truly need is a genuine close friend. The focus of friendship lies not in quantity, but in quality. If you can have a friend by your side who is willing to extend a helping hand without hesitation when you are in trouble, that is already more than enough.
More importantly, this friend who “sticketh closer than a brother” actually foreshadows Jesus. Jesus’ relationship with us is the closest of all, and we should pursue building such a relationship with Him throughout our lives.
