Most of us have heard the story of the Sunday school teacher who asked Johnny: “What is a gray animal with a bushy tail that hides nuts for the winter?” Johnny answers: “I know the answer is Jesus, but it sounds like a squirrel to me.”

This anecdote is funny because “Jesus” is often the answer to questions we hear in church. But sometimes He is not. This might cause us to see Him in places where He is not found.

I think I discovered such a place in Prov 18:24. The verse is translated various ways in different versions. In the NKJV, it reads: “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Some people who know much more about Hebrew than I do say a better translation of the first part of the verse is: “A person of too many friends comes to ruin…” This is how the NASB translates it.

While the NASB makes it clearer, the main point comes through. A person can have many friends. But those friends may not stick around when things get tough. A loyal friend, however, will not abandon a friend in need. He may even be more faithful than a brother. In the previous chapter, Solomon spoke about a friend who loves at all times (Prov 17:17).

Nominal––or what we might call “fair-weather”––friends can be a problem. They can prove destructive. Perhaps Solomon means that you will count on them when you go through difficult times, but when you expect them to come through, they let you down. The support you hope to obtain will not be there. You would be better off if you had not counted on that support. You could have looked elsewhere.

Or perhaps they are your friends because they hope to use the relationship to their own advantage. Whatever Solomon has in mind, such friends can lead to your ruin. At best, we can call such people acquaintances. They aren’t friends.

The last part of the verse is crystal clear. A true friend is a rare treasure. You can count on him. There’s a country song that summarizes this verse. It talks about when we are down and out and in need. The title of the song is “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” The chorus goes like this:

You’ll find out who your friends are.
Somebody’s gonna drop everything,
Run out and crank up their car,
Hit the gas, get there fast,
Never stop to think, “What’s in it for me?”
Or “It’s way too far.“
They just show on up
With their big old heart.
You’ll find out who your friends are

Imagine being in a Sunday school class and asking the question: “Who is the friend that sticks closer than a brother in Proverbs 18:24?” I guess that most in the class would say, “Jesus.” Jesus is indeed the greatest Friend we have. He will never abandon us. But while it may be almost sacrilegious to some, I am positive that is not who Solomon had in mind.

Solomon is telling us to be a faithful friend. We are supposed to be a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

The story about Johnny and the squirrel is funny. But if we give the same answer to Prov 18:24, it’s not funny at all. If we say that Jesus is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother, we can use it as a cop-out. He will take care of a brother or sister in need. I don’t need to. I can use Him as an excuse to shirk my responsibilities.

There are not enough adjectives to describe how great our Savior is. But He is not the answer to every question. Sometimes, we are.