Take a man’s garment, who puts up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge, as security for a seductive woman. Proverbs 27:13, TLV
Are You That Type of Friend? Have you ever done something avoidably stupid? Oh boy, I have. Take this blog for instance. I can’t begin to tell you the typos and grammar mistakes I made in the early years. Eventually, I had enough readers who would alert me so that I could at least edit the existing post.
What if they didn’t? Just let me look foolish? I guess I would question their friendship.
To avoid those editing errors happening more often than not, I’ve discovered that I have to write the blog a day or two before posting. That way I can review and edit that morning, before posting. Still, I miss errors. But I can count on my precious readers to let me know.
That’s what this strange proverb means to me. If I’m about to make a foolish mistake, I’m counting on those who love me to yank me back.
Over time, if I’m feeling the effects of all-too-often yanks, then it’s time to determine what is the root of my problem. In the case of the blog, I learned that I can’t write something last minute and expect it to be accurate or all it could be. I have to give it more effort.
How about you? Do you have a circle of supportive people who 
aren’t afraid to help you avoid bad choices? I’m not talking about people who aren’t afraid of criticizing you. That’s another problem. No, I’m talking about those precious souls who love you and see your worth and want the very best for you. Those trusted, inner-circle friends who have proven themselves as trustworthy.
And then, how about you? Are you a trustworthy friend who isn’t afraid to speak wisdom when your friend needs it? Take their cloak? Put up security so that the repercussions of their mistake won’t be as devastating?
Always?
There are times when we need to feel the sting of our mistakes — as we’ve discussed before. So, we won’t always step in on their behalf. Or vice versa.
How do we know when it is appropriate? Wisdom. Discernment. Knowledge. Understanding. By employing the full arsenal of God’s wisdom, we can do this. Know when to step in. When to step back.
And how do we come by that wisdom arsenal? Ah, yes. By living Proverbs. Living the Bible. Not just studying — which is wonderful — but living it every day.
Think More About It
Do you have friends you trust to let you know you’re about to make a terrible choice? Are you that type of friend?
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