Sweetness of a Friend

Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

ointment...{grease}

This makes me think of greasing the squeaky wheel.  Our true friends will "hear" the squeak and apply oil to it.

perfume...a fumigation: - (sweet) {incense} perfume.

Don't you love the smell of fresh baked cookies? Realtors use that to make a home seem more homey. Our friends bring a perfume to our lives that make our hearts rejoice. When we are apart, we can still "smell" the aroma of our times together.

rejoice the heart...to brighten {up}

When living in the northwest many suffer from depression because of the drab, overcast weather and the fact that it lasts for so many months. The key is to have good lighting in your home or office to keep things bright.  Same with our friendships, they should brighten our lives.

sweetness...pleasantness

Have you ever come into your home ant thought, "What is that smell?" Only to find garbage that needs to be taken out? In comparison, coming home to a pleasant smell makes you feel much more at home.  This is like the sweetness of a friend's hearty counsel.  It creates a bond and comfort level in your friendship when they are giving you pleasant counsel. When they show they truly care about you. 

hearty counsel...advice; by implication plan

Sometimes you just don't know what direction to take. This is when counsel of a friend is the best. You can bounce something off of them and get their response. A true friend will be willing to help walk you through your trials with hearty counsel. 

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Be sure to "show yourself friendly" today. Also, remember that our very best friend is always with us.