Refreshing Friends

Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

Proverbs 27:9

Proverbs 27:9 says that “hearty counsel,” or the kind of advice that comes from a good friend, is as pleasant as “ointment and perfume.” Good, strong advice from a good, strong friend is a delight to receive. It shows that a person really cares about you and wants your best. “Hearty counsel” builds you up and strengthens you and helps you face difficult things.

These words, attributed to George Eliot, define a fortifying friend: “Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”

The Bible contains a wonderful example of a fortifying friendship between two men, David and Jonathan. In spite of circumstances that would make their friendship an unlikely one, they forged a bond that fortified each of them. Their relationship stands as a testament to what true friendship can endure and accomplish.