Ancient Words For Today - 74
The world is full of fair-weather friends, those who are there to share the good times, but when hard times come and you need their help, they become unavailable and vanish from your sight. There also are those who offer conditional friendship and love, with strings attached. But when you no longer meet their needs, or they aren't getting what they want out of the relationship, they quickly forsake you. And there are some who value your friendship so little that they write you off as a friend when a strong disagreement arises, or harsh words are exchanged rather than trying to work through the difficulty and strengthen the bond.
Such failed and pseudo friendships are disheartening and can leave lasting scars. In fact, after being hurt in this way, some people begin to withdraw from social activities and avoid making new friends for fear of being hurt again. This is most tragic.
We need faithful friends in our life: those who are with us during the good times and stand with us through stormy weather as well - friends who, when we have made a fool out of ourselves or slipped to a low level, don't believe it to be a permanent condition, and remain our faithful friends as they help us recover.
Having a friend who truly loves you at all times is indeed rare and a friendship to cherish and nurture. Knowing how important this is in our own lives, we should be quick to show ourselves friendly and faithful to others, especially to those who have no such friends. The Bible has much to say about friends and friendships. Here are a few passages we should keep in our focus:
Many will intreat 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. Proverbs 19:6-7
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. Proverbs 25:19
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. Proverbs 14:21
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:13-14
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. Proverbs 17:9
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:5-6
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Jesus is the best friend we can ever have. He is faithful and always tells us the truth in love. He said He would never leave or forsake us, He would be with us until the end of the age, and He would supply all of our need. He gave His own life so that we could live with Him for eternity! WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!!!
What kind of friend are you showing yourself to be?