Some Things Money Can't Buy

It’s getting a little old, but all those commercials that say “There are some things money can’t buy” actually do have a point. It’s true— and there are even some things you can’t buy with a credit card!
Although it may not seem to be true, you can never buy friends. Honest, even though you may look around and see that kids who have money are always popular and never lacking for friends.
The writer of the book of Proverbs noticed the same thing. In Proverbs 19:4, 6-7, he says, “Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor. . . Many will entreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.” We read a similar statement in Proverbs 14:20. “The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich hath many friends.”
The writer is not saying that it is right to try to be friends only with people who have money; instead, he is saying that this is the case with many people. Because people are sinful and selfish, they do not look for a friend whom they can help, but instead they want a friend who will do things for them. Surely you have seen this at your school: the kids who are athletic, good-looking, popular, or rich never have any trouble making “friends.”
How about you? Do you look for a friend who will make you more popular, get you into a cooler crowd, give you things, or do you look for a friend who will help you be more like Jesus Christ? Do you try to bribe people into being your friend or are you looking to serve others? Jesus said to his disciples, “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:44).