I think in my lifetime I have realized what Solomon is trying to tell us in theses two proverbs:

1. You will have many acquaintances in this life but few friends
2. Friendship will always be established or destroyed by tough times.

Friends are those whom have seen your best/worst sides, those who have suffered with you, that is the true friends Solomon refers too in fact they are those who he calls brothers/sisters. 

I am thankful I have had the opportunity to have some good brothers, sisters, real friends. 

P.S. If you have me as your friend you have found a brother in Christ.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 ESV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 ESV

Paul prays for the Church he says "I pray that your love will overflow more and more and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding"

That is a good prayer because; 

1. We will need love to follow God's plan in this world
2. We will grow in knowledge and understanding only through His word.
3. The Love, Knowledge and Understanding will bring victory in our lives.

With Love and Knowledge of Him and His word we can leave a mark on this world, we can say Jesus was here.

I pray this for all of you:

That you would grow in love more and more and knowledge and understanding of God's word. That you would leave a mark on this world, one that says Jesus lives, and you have seen His power in me.
Amen

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
Philippians 1:9-10

THE POWER OF MY WORDS:

The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21).

Listen my words, the things I say they have the power to bless or

destroy, as a matter of fact James 3:10 says out of the same mouth

comes both blessing and cursing.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these

things ought not to be so.

~ James 3:10

1. Words that build

My words have the ability to build people up or tear them down.   Listen to what Proverbs 16:24 says.  How often are we using our words to build people up, or to encourage one another.   Even in correction I can chose to make my words to build, lift and direct others. 

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones ~Proverbs 16:24.

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up

~Proverbs 12:25.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment  ~Proverbs 10: 20, 21.

2.  Words that teardown:

My words can have the opposite effect, I can chose to damage, maim and hurt those I speak with.

One of the biggest problems we have as humans is communication. We don’t do it well. When emotions enter the situation all bets are off. But one of the most reckless things we do in our communication is to speak negatively or to curse others.

Listen to proverbs:

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing ~Proverbs 12:18.

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit ~Proverbs 15:4.

Listen to proverbs 11:9

With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor

~Proverbs 11:9.6

And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin

your whole life. It can turn the en>re course of your life into a blazing

flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 8 but no one can

tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.

~James 3:6, 8

How do we do it, and what benefits will we reap?

Three rules for better living:

1.             Listen Better (Quick to Listen)

Three benefits of listening better:

1. a.       I would assume less.
2. b.      I would have >me to evaluate what has been said
3. c.       I would avoid saying the wrong thing based on my assumptions.

2.            Speak Less (Slow to Speak)

Three benefits to speaking less.      

1. a.       I chose my words more carefully
2. b.      I would be wiser. (Proverbs 17:27)
3. a.       c. I would be taken more seriously   (What I do say will be held with higher regard.)

3.            Cool Tempered (Slow to Anger)

Three benefits of being cool tempered.

1. a.       I will be less stressed.
2. b.      I will be trusted more
3. c.       I can overcome more difficult situation

Ever have ask someone with connections for a favor? When you get to where your going, all you need to do is tell the person that so-and-so sent you for it and Wallah! you get what you need, the door is open.

Well here in John 16:24 Jesus tells His disciples to do just that, He says just "ASK" in my name, use me as your reference, test it and see that it won't open doors, but don't be surprised when you are rejoicing. 

People we must be
A - Asking always for Jesus to move in our lives
S - Seeking His power and His presence in our lives
K - Knocking down the barriers that stand between me and His Purposes

Why because there is power in the name of Jesus.

Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:24b

Had to laugh at this on the week of my 22 year wedding anniversary. Not because my wife is quarrelsome, just because of the irony. 

Everyone has something that their wife is always reminding them to do: pick up your clothes off the floor, take the trash out, pick up after yourself etc! 

But on a serious note: 

When we repeat ourselves, or constantly remind someone about something. What we really afraid of is that they are not hearing us. 

So how do we reconcile this: 

First we have to ask ourselves:

1. What are the motives behind what I am saying?
2. Am I more concerned about getting my way, 
3 Is it that I am more interested in being right-than 
about the person I am helping? 

Often the solution is: 
I should think of a more effective way to get through to them. Surprise them with words of patience and love, and see what happens.

GRACE: 

"you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"

15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind
or trying to hold something with greased hands. Proverbs 27:15-16