Today’s Reading: Proverbs 1:8-9; 3:25-26; 10:1; 11:22,29; 12:4,26; 13:12,17,19-20; 14:1,7,28,32,35; 15:20; 16:10,12-15,17,31; 17:2,6-7,11,17,21,25; 18:22,24; 19:12-14,26; 20:2,8,20,26,28-29; 21:1,9,19; 22:1,3,5,11,13; 23:1-3,17-18,22-25; 24:1-2,10,21-22; 25:2-7,9-10,13; 26:13; 27:8-10,15-16; 28:1-3,15-16,24; 29:9,12,14,24

“Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbour nearby than a brother far away.” (Proverbs 27:10)

This verse is essentially about networking. Networking is seen as a way to get ahead; a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” mentality prevails. Break that rule and your contact is lost.

However, paddling against the current in the river of Western culture today, is this verse in Proverbs. In it, rugged individualism (an “I can do survive fine on my own” attitude) is discouraged, and neutrality (an “I’m not going to get involved” attitude) is frowned upon. People need people!

Not only should we be encouraged to seek the help of others “when disaster strikes,” but we ought to be the kind of people others can come to for help when they’re suffering or struggling.