Dollars equals friends

Once upon a time...I lived a different life filled with many luxuries, plush accommodations, plenty of wine, fine clothes, grand meals, and expensive jewelry. Looking back, I had many "friends".  Weekends at my home were filled with various people entertaining one another, luxurious shopping trips, meals fit for a king (and priced that way too), and fine wines to drink. I was just a pretty face.  There was no depth to any relationship I was in, including my marriage at the time.  In Proverbs 19:4 it is written, "Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend."   As I read that verse, I realize now that my true friends were not active during my life at that time.  We were completely separated by my selfishness, money, misunderstandings, and arrogance.  When you are not living your life for God, but for man, for "friends", you will soon find yourself where I did years later. I was broke, alone, and had damaged many true friendships and family relationships. In verse 10, I find it even more fitting for that time of my life: "Luxury is not appropriate for a fool."  Perhaps the reason my luxurious life was fleeting was because I was not blessing others.  I'm not talking solely about giving to church offerings or charities.  I'm talking about not benefitting anyone but myself, in any way, every day, day in and day out.  That is a hard thing to admit.  Though my environment was influenced heavily by others, it was my own choices that framed my life.

Do you have the right kind of friendships in your life?  Is your money or lack thereof, causing rifts in your relationships with your friends and family? 

Don't let money continue running your life another day!  Search out the wisdom found in God's word...start with Proverbs!