True Friendship

If you have a Facebook account, your assocations there are called Friends. How many Friends do you have on Facebook? 200, 400, 600? People you know from school, work, the neighborhood, the grocery store, etc., you might refer as a friend. These people you call friends... are they?

How does the Bible describe friendship? What does it really mean to be someone's friend? The Biblical view of friendship is not easy to live up to. The way to have a great friendship is to be a great friend, a true friend.

To Bible set the measure of what a great friend is. May we seek to attain this goal in our close relationships.

What Scripture says:

A true friend is faithful, willing to stand by you in tough times. (1 Peter 5:12, Colossians 1:7, Proverbs 18:24, Job 2:11)

A true friend is trustworthy - never violates your trust. They can keep a secret. (Proverbs 17:9, Matthew 26:48-50)

A true friend is open and honest with you. There are no hidden agendas. It is not a friendship for the wrong reasons. (Proverbs 14:20, 19:4)

A true friend is dependable. When they tell you they will do something, you can know they will do everything in their power to do it. (Proverbs 27:10)

A true friend is always there for you. (Proverbs 17:17, Eccl 4:9-10, Luke 21:16-17, Acts 24:23, 27:3)

A true friend hangs in there even during your failures. (Matthew 11:19)

A true friend is willing to lovingly and honestly corrects you when you need it. (Proverbs 27:6) See "How to Reprove".

A true friend is willingly to listen to your advice or correction and carefully consider it. (Proverbs 27:9)

A true friend talks to you, listens to you, enjoys your company. (Exodus 33:11)

A true friend always draws you towards righteousness, not inappropriate things. (Deuteronomy 13:6-8, Job 6:14, Proverbs 12:26, 27:17, James 4:4)

A true friend regularly prays for you. (Job 42:10)

A true friend does not make fun of you, mock you, belittle you. (Psalms 15:3)

A true friend does not let anything get between them to separate them. (Proverbs 16:28)

A true friend is willing to do anything for you. (Luke 11:5-8, John 15:13)

Remember:

John 15:14-15 — ~"You are My friends if you do what I command you.
~"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

James 2:23 — and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.

Proverbs 27:17 — Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.