True Friends

Read Proverbs 12

The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.

Proverbs 12:26

Young people, in particular, find it very difficult to distinguish between evaluating their friendships on the basis of advice those friends offer and evaluating advice on the basis of those friendships. Their desire for friendship and acceptance often overrules their awareness of bad advice. Unfortunately, those who are not true friends don’t hesitate to use their “friendship” as a condition to get someone to go along with bad plans.

Conversations about friendship ought to be frequent during a child’s earliest years. Culture tends to cheapen the relationship to the point where friend is synonymous with acquaintance. Young people list among their friends people whom they barely know. A child who has learned the high value of the word friend will be less likely to trust as friends those who have not really proven themselves trustworthy.

Both genuine friendship and good advice stand the test of time. Neither occurs instantly. Both are to be treasured.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Ask God for wisdom for your friends.

Today, Lord, I thank you for my friendships. Thank you for being my ultimate friend. Help me be the right kind of friend to others.