Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a
friend who sticks closer than a brother.
When I was younger, it was pretty easy to make and keep
friends. Conflicts seemed to be dealt with quite easily. But as I’ve gotten
older, friendships have become more and more complicated. There are more
factors involved and conflicts can run deeper between my friends and I. We
become more defensive, and find it harder to forgive and forget. I’ve found
that as you get older friendships can become harder to make and harder to
maintain.
God is relational and God has made us relational people.
So why do we find relationships such hard work? Ever since Adam and Eve our
world has been marked by strained relationships.
The book of Proverbs spends much time describing and
defining friendship. One of the prime qualities of a friend is loyalty. There
are friends who merely pretend. But there is friendship that goes deeper and
shows more loyalty than that of a brother. According to Proverbs there will
always be fair-weather friends. But a true friend will be there through thick
and thin. In case we think only of the friendship we hope to receive, we are
told to give this kind of loyalty.
Another quality of friendship in Proverbs is Honest
Counsel. A true friend must be lovingly honest and should help shape their
friend’s character.
Like a surgeon, friends cut you in order to heal you. If
a friend says hard words to you out of love, this is better than kisses from an
enemy. True friends will rebuke you when necessary; point out where you are
going wrong. This is never easy to do, and unless you are a real friend, you
probably won’t say anything negative. So if a friend of yours is sinning in
some way that comes to your attention, the loving thing to do is lovingly,
gently confront them.
Likewise if a friend pulls you up on something they think
you are sinning in, don’t go defensive or counter attack, accept their words as
words of love. For true friends counsel and encourage each other
Friends become wiser together through a healthy
difference in points of view. Counsel and healthy disagreement in a friendship
can make life sweeter and you sharper. A true friendship will have both
elements. So be honest, frank and open with your friends.
That’s the character of true friendship. How do you stack
up? Are you an honest and loyal friend? Can you say the hard words to your
friends? When you friend goes through a hard time are you the first one there
with a hug and phone call or prayer? Or are you nowhere to be found?
Real friends always let you in, and they never let you
down.
Dear Lord, we pray that we would be a good friend to
those You have given to us. Use us to help make them better. In the Name of
Jesus, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment