Tuesday, June 13, 2017

True Friendship

Our culture uses the term friendship very loosely. Social networking Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat connect us with scores of “friends” yet many of them we’ve never met, are only acquaintances, and not real or true friends.

Many passages in scripture unveil the meaning of a true friend. They are someone who brings out the best in you, encourages you, exhorts you, who loves and gives unselfishly. They build you up not tear you down.

They listen and speak truth with love and kindness – and when others criticize your, they stand in your defense.

Friendship is never one sided because to have a friend, we must be a friend. Think of your closest friend. Do they reflect attributes of a true friend? Do you?

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
Proverbs 17:17

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17

““Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”
Job 6:14

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Proverbs 27:6

“A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
Proverbs 16:28

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
John 15:13