What is a friend?

What is a friend? There are probably as many definitions as there are friendships. What does the Bible have to say about “friends?”

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is

born for adversity”

(Proverbs 17:17, NIV).

True friends don’t run when there’s trouble.  They get under the load with you and share the burden.

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses” 

(Proverbs 27:6, NIV). 

True friends don’t tell you what you want to hear, they tell you what you need to hear, even if it risks the relationship.

To have friends a man must show himself friendly.

(Proverbs 18:24a, my paraphrase)

    

True friends treat others as they would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

(Proverbs 18:24b, NKJV)

Our greatest Friend and our model of friendship is Jesus, the “friend of sinners.” Before Jesus went to the cross to pay for the forgiveness of your sins and mine He said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, NIV). And He told us how we could be His friend in return. “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14, NIV).  Jesus commanded us to love one another as He has loved us. And the only way to do that is to have Jesus living out His life in us and through us through the power of  the Holy Spirit.  If you don’t know Him already you can know Him now. Simply tell Him you are sorry for your sins and that you believe He paid for them on the cross. Then ask Him to come into your heart and be your Savior and Lord and friend forever.

If you would like to know more about the friend you have in Jesus, read the Bible (Proverbs 18:24, Matthew 11:19, John 13:34-35, Galatians 5:22), talk to a friend who knows Jesus, visit a Church that teaches Jesus is God.