Lets Be Friends

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity"

Proverbs 17:17


Dinah Craik wrote a poem called “Friendship” that went like this, “O, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts, nor measure words - but pouring them right out - just as they are - chaff and grain together - Certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them - Keep what is worth keeping - And with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.”

Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a friend loves at all times. No matter what we do our true friends remain faithful even when we are not. No wonder friendship is such a rare treasure. Obviously there are degrees of friendship and what I am writing about must be the pinnacle of the mountain. For each of us the first person who should come to mind is our Savior. Jesus Christ is the friend of sinners and He loves us even when we are not too lovable!

Proverbs 17:17  goes on to say that a brother is born for adversity. Some interpret this to say our family members cause us grief but that could not be further from the truth. The brother born here is to be a comfort to us during our troubled times. Do you have a family member or a friend like this? If so, praise the Lord, cherish them, tell them, and seek to reciprocate the same kindness back to them for they are truly a gift from God, a visible manifestation of His amazing grace to you.

If you can’t think of a friend like this in your life don’t despair. Start by being this type of friend to someone else. Ask the Lord to help you become the kind of friend other people would want to have. Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Start by showing yourself friendly! It’s really that easy, loved one; it really is that simple. Take the first step and reach out to others. Take an interest in them; prefer them better than yourself, because that is exactly what Jesus did for me and you. Jesus put your need and my need above His own. That’s how we know we have a friend in Jesus, a friend that is sticking closer to us than a brother ever would. He gave us His life, what more could He give?

Many people ask what the secret to friendship is when it’s really no secret at all. If you want to make friends just be one before you seek one! That’s it, the secrets out. Seek to be a friend first. Keep this little old saying in mind today as you go about your day. “I went out looking for a friend and found none, I went out to be a friend and made many”.

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


John 15:13

I LOVE YOU!