Three Friends

Daniel 1:11-21

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Bee's Thoughts:

I like the title of tonight's devotion, "Three Friends". Friends have many kinds. The worst of all is:

Fair-weather friend

When it’s rainy and wet you’re nowhere to be seen
When it dries out again you bet you’re right back on the scene
And when the clouds begin to form you’re always hiding from the rain
And when the sun begins to shine you’re always first in line again

It would be nice if you could just make up your mind
It would be nice if you could stop wasting my time
My fair-weather friend back here again
Until the end my fair-weather friend back here again

Never do it yourself when someone else can do it for you
Never put yourself out when something less will do
So when the benefits out weigh the work stay right put
And when the going gets a little rough do the only thing you know you should


That's the lyric of a song I don't know its tune. It conveys the meaning of fair-weather friend quite well. I have had a couple of such friends before. Now they are gone... by natural attrition. Time tells who are the real friends from the fair-weather friends. True friends stay when the rest go away.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for giving me friends although some don't stay. I thank You for the one (s) that stay and be a pillar of strength and encouragement in times of discouragement. Most of all, thank You for being my Friend who is always there for me.
Help me to be a true friend and be wise in choosing my friends, so I can utilize my time wisely.
I ask these in Jesus' name. Amen