We can so overuse the word FRIEND! She’s my friend, he’s my friend, they are my friends, and she, he and they may be nothing more than acquaintances. Sure, they are people that we have met, we may see them regularly or once in a while, but there is no depth to our relationship with them. 

It is a common sight on any pre-school or elementary school playground to witness children in play stating, “You can be my FRIEND if…,” or “You are not my FRIEND anymore because…”

We love to throw around the term BFF or BESTIE, but what does that actually imply?

We buy the jewelry and wear the necklace until something happens and it is thrown in a drawer or easily tossed aside.

It is curious to me that in the book of Proverbs, a book written by King Solomon, son of King David, to instill wisdom to the reader and instruction on godly living, we are cautioned to know what a TRUE FRIEND is.

“There are “FRIENDS” who destroy each other, but a REAL FRIEND sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:24

I believe that we are being cautioned to be wise in who we call a friend. A “friend” may have the ability to sustain us or destroy us.  A friend is someone that we spend a lot of time with, listen to and tend to believe. What they say has a big impact on what we think and believe. They have the ability, if we give it to them, to influence us for good or bad.  

God, through Soloman here in the book of Proverbs, is cautioning us to choose our friends wisely!

I know this is easier said than done. We are drawn to people who are like us and make us feel good about who we are, or we are drawn to people who are not like us but who we would like to be. I believe both of these are wrong motives for finding a true godly FRIEND!

Proverbs 17:17 sets the standard for a true friend…

“A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES.”  PROVERBS 17:17

There are no “if’s, and’s, or but’s” about it!  A true friend loves you with the love of God if they agree with you or disagree with you. A true friend loves you when you are in a good mood or a bad mood. A true friend loves you when you are right or when you are wrong. A true friend loves you when you are on a mountain top high, or in a valley low. A true friend speaks God’s Truth to you when you want to hear it and when you do not. A true friend sees the best in you and prays the worst out of you. A true friend wants you to be all that God created you to be. A true friend loves you enough to point you in His direction to achieve it! 

TRUTH BOMB

A TRUE FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER WHAT THOSE TIMES HOLD!

In the book of Ecclesiastes we are told the value of a TRUE FRIEND.

The book of Ecclesiastes has, in my opinion, been given a “bum wrap!”  It is known in many circles to be rather negative, pessimistic and contain philosophical skepticism.

However, upon study and reflection it can become clear to see that the theme of  Ecclesiastes is the “necessity of fearing God in a fallen, and therefore frequently confusing and frustrating world.”  ESV Study Bible

Do we not live in a confusing and frustrating, fallen world? Do we not need help, guiding and directing us to make godly choices in our relationships? Do we not need wisdom and encouragement to be who God created us to be? Do we not need a godly friend who will be there for us to help us succeed and to pick us up when we fall?

My resounding answer is YES! I believe that is God’s plan for all of us. Through God’s gift of a True Godly Friend we can accomplish this!

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If the person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

True godly Friends are a gift from God. They help us succeed and pick us up when we fall. They do not simply tickle our ears with what we want to hear, but they speak God’s Truth to us in Love. This helps us become who God truly created us to be.

I do hope you have a BFF or Bestie! I do hope you can wear half of a heart necklace, knowing someone else has the other half and is a true godly friend. Just remember…

A TRUE FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES AND JESUS IS THE TRUEST OF ALL FRIENDS!  

Speak Truth Love