A Friend

A FRIEND

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

I read a question the other day, a friend of mine had asked the following, “does anyone know the definition of a best friend?” What would be your answer? Do you have a best friend? Can you narrow it down to just one person that you can say is your closest and best friend? I heard this said one time and I think it is a good definition of a best friend or friend; It is some one who knows you, the good, bad and ugly and still likes you. When I was first starting out in ministry I had two preachers that I was riding to a meeting with both encourage me by telling me that I would have few if any friends now that I was in the ministry. I thought, thanks a lot for that bit of encouragement. But I see sort of what they were talking about, I have many acquaintances and we are friendly toward one another, but, we don’t share that closeness that makes up a real friendship. In fact I have lost some friends along the way, not that we have fallen out or anything but, ministry has taken me one way and their lives have taken them another way.

Proverbs 18:24 states to have friends we must show ourselves friendly and I hope that I do that, but some people think that they don’t want or need friends. You can’t make people be your friends. The verse goes on to say that there is a friend will be closer than a brother. That would be Jesus, He is a true friend who knows all about you and me and still loves us. He calls us friends if we obey Him.

John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

I may not have many friends, but I have Jesus and that is more important to me than have friendship with the world. Don’t get me wrong I want to have friends to fellowship with and be able to listen to them and talk with them and bear one another’s burdens. But having Jesus as a friend is more important. If you are saved and keeping his commandments He is your friend.

Do you remember the night Judas betrayed Jesus and they came after Him, that He called Judas friend, the very one who had betrayed Him he called friend. Could you do that? Many think this was said sarcastically, but I don’t think so, I think Jesus still looked on Judas as one who had followed Him for 3 years. They had eaten together and no doubt talked together in this time. Judas had been a friend in the past although this night he was not a friend but a betrayer of Jesus. Are you a friend or a betrayer of Jesus? Just food for thought.

I hope you have many friends, but even more I hope Jesus is your best friend; He will never leave you or let you down. He will always be there for you. If you have Jesus as your friend you will have other friends as well.

Have a great day