Hardship reveals fake friends
WHEN INDIVIDUALS find themselves having power and are within a certain sphere of influence, they are surrounded by persons of a certain class or status. So, for example, where someone is a diplomat, they would be surrounded by politicians, the wealthy and they are able to socialise with a certain crowd and be invited to attend their parties and functions. Access and power can allow us to be surrounded by people and we tend to forget where we are coming from. The lesson we learn from Solomon (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20) is that we must remain humble, because the only thing of lasting value in this life is our relationship with God. How we treat others and the genuineness of our relationships with those closest to us, determine a lot for our future.
WHEN THINGS CHANGE
Wealth comes, wealth goes. Administrations come, administrations change. Power and influence come, and without warning, they can go; and when these things go, you will then know who your true friends are, and t he fake ones will be exposed.
If, for example, you are the vice-president or executive in an organisation and you get fired suddenly or voted out, or adversity hits you so that you can no longer function in that capacity; you can no longer attend the functions, parties and rub shoulders with the who’s who. Your cash is drying up and you’re unable to pay dues/fees to maintain club/group membership. Maybe you previously made a huge investment and you have a mortgage on your house and all your finances are drying up. It is then that your fake friends are revealed as they no longer take your calls, invite you to their yacht, introduce you to the latest new business mogul on the block, and you are no longer on the ‘okay list’ of invitees. Instead of a direct connection, you now have to go through the secretary, who always tells you, “He or she is on the road right now. May I take a message?” Now embarrassment sets in, because you were a star yesterday and today you are nobody. So now, you are feeling like a failure – even suicidal – and you can’t believe that the people who you thought were your friends would not even look at your résumé or give you a call back.
Fur thermore, even family members who would invite you over for dinner or call you for a favour or two, won’t even give you the time of day.
Now, the people and the church that you rejected – those you scoffed at before because you were so focused on work and lifestyle and even thought were beneath you, and that the pastor was only after your money – now, they are the only ones who willingly reach out to you.
The very church or organisation you scoffed at before, that sought your help in the past for their church or charity and for the benefit the poor, are at the ready to come to your aid when you are down, despite the fact that while you were in power, you would fork out the last dollar to ‘help’ those fake friends who have now rejected you.