Last week we talked about the first part (Part A) to being a true friend. I confessed to you that I have spent the majority of my life, recognizing The Part A of friendship and stopping there!  

A true friend must follow all of Proverbs 17:17, both Part A and Part B!

“A Friend loves at all times, and a brother/sister is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

A True Friend does love at all times, but they are also there in times of adversity!

When you are born for something you are created for it, made for it and ready for it! If we are a true friend, then yes, we love at all times, but we are also there and ready to face the adversity that our friend is facing with them.

It is during adversity that we discover who we are really for and who is really for us. 

Because adversity makes a demand on our friendship!

Adversity demands our time, our attention and at times even tangible expressions of the love that we have for someone else. It is often our opportunity to give back!

A true friend isn’t just there to celebrate a birthday, eat cake, and throw confetti! They are also there to encourage as someone heals, to listen to someone as they reveal their broken heart, to drop everything and meet the need at hand, and to give even though it hurts and costs us much.

We are not called to be a doormat, the giving should be reciprocated when you are going through adversity. But we are also not called to put up so many boundaries that we are no longer vulnerable, real, or accessible!

Only God can give us the balance required to be a true friend! And Jesus demonstrated it for us!

I like to say that Jesus had three circles of friendship. The first and largest circle is the outer circle, and it is huge and endless!

Jesus loved everyone, and we are called to love everyone with His love also!

“Love the Lord Your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:38-40

The second circle is smaller and has a manageable number of friends that are trusted and true. Jesus had 12. Jesus’ 12 disciples were the friends that he did life with! He poured into them with his wisdom and knowledge and love. Our second circle must include those trusted and true friends that we have the time to pour into and be poured into by.

The third circle is the inner circle of intimacy! It is the few true friends who have shown that they love at all times and are there in adversity! For Jesus, it was Peter James and John. These friends must pass the Proverbs 17:17 test they must love at all times and be there no matter what in times of adversity!

But even a Proverbs 17:17 friend will let us down. And no matter how good of a Proverbs 17:17 Friend we are, we will let our friends down. Because in our human state we fail, we falter and we even at times FALL ASLEEP!

Jesus sets the ultimate standard for our very best friend! Jesus goes up higher, out from even his innermost circle, to the only one who never fails, falters, or falls asleep. He goes to God and so must we!

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin. But, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother/sister!“ 

Proverbs 18:24

TRUTH BOMB

WHEN GOD IS OUR BEST FRIEND WE WILL NEVER BE LET DOWN!

My prayer is that we will all strive to be a true Proverbs 17:17 Friend to all those that God puts in our life! But, that we will run to our very Best Friend, God, and point our friends to Him!

Speak Truth Love