“A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a difficult time”
Proverbs 17:17
“One with many friends may be harmed,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother”
Proverbs 18:24
“The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of
an enemy are excessive.”
Proverbs 27:6
“No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for His friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
John 15:13-14
Social distancing is not conducive to staying connected to friends and family, unless of course they live with you. Sometimes being alone has its gratifying moments, but many times a good friend helps bring comfort, a laugh, a confidant, and most of all encouragement. Our walk through several Proverbs verses helps us see the importance and value of a good friend. A friend is one who genuinely loves you as they say, “warts and all” because they know you and have chosen to love you as a friend regardless. You can have a lot of “surface friends” maybe called significant acquaintances who you interact with, maybe share coffee with, but they are not like the one who loves and walks with you no matter what. If a brother is born for a difficult time, there can be a friend who is even who stays closer than a brother. A true friend may tell you some things that are difficult to hear, but you will listen because you know that they love you and genuinely speak them for your well-being. Enemies disguised as well-doers are much more interested in themselves than you although they may offer all types of accolade. Having a good friend or two is truly a blessing from God.
There is one friend that exceeds all potential expectations of any other friend. This is the friend who chose to lay down His life for you. What earthly friend is there that you have that willingly gave His very life blood while hanging on a cross, beaten bruised despised by men for you? In fact, is there any other man who has lived or is living who could actually and satisfactorily pay the price you owed for your sin? There is only one that I know of and that is Jesus Christ the Lord! Jesus is the friend who loves at all times, Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a brother, Jesus is the friend who is always trustworthy. Current earthly friends are a blessing, but Jesus is our eternal faithful friend.
When I was a little boy Sunday School I first learned a song that went like this:
My best friend is Jesus,
Love Him, Love Him,
My best friend is Jesus,
Love Him.
It is a simple song, but let me ask you this who is your best friend? My best friend is Jesus and I love Him.