A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
To have friends, one must be friendly. Though a person may say they are friendly, a shortage of friends reveals the opposite. The Bible pays a lot of emphasis on genuine friendships and how the wrong company can ruin things. Jesus, in John 15:15, called us His friends and showed us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus set us an example of true friendship by sacrificing His life on the cross.
As followers of Christ, we can glorify God through our relationships by being friends who stick closer than a brother. We ought to be friends who love at all times and not just when it is favourable to us. Jesus joyfully confided and shared what He heard of the Father. As His disciples, we should be joyful to see our friends learn and grow with the knowledge, encouragement and support we give them. “As iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17(KJV)
The Bible also teaches us that there are friendships we should avoid, like selfish friends. You will know them by their quarrelsome nature. “An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels” – Proverbs 18:1(NIV). Bible also warns us about angry people. “Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man, thou shalt not go lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy soul.” Jesus was a friend of the sinners and encouraged His disciples to eat with the sinner, but, He warned them about the proud and the boastful people, “take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6(NKJV).
As we meditate on Proverb 18:24, let us remember that Jesus called us His friends, and as His followers, we glorify Him when we are loving friends to others. Let us aim to reflect on the friend who laid down His own life for us.
