True Friendship

The righteous should choose his friends carefully,For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV)

Friendship. First of all, I want to say to all of us as women, we need friends! We need godly friends. Truly, my friendships are some of my dearest treasures. C. S. Lewis asked, “Is any pleasure in earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire?”

Picture the moment that Jonathan chose David as a friend. In many ways they were light-years apart. Jonathan lived in a palace, David was just a shepherd. But 1 Samuel 18:1 says, “The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David” (NKJV). Their friendship with each other was sparked because individually they each had a deep, personal friendship with God.

The advice in our proverb says to choose your friends carefully—and advises against mingling with those who have wicked traits. So let’s list some traits to guard against.

• Jealousy. Don’t get too close to someone who has jealousy issues. She will start tearing others down. And fight against that trait in yourself. Don’t be jealous when your friend has other friends.
• Pettiness. If you are buddies with someone who is petty and critical, you will learn to be petty and critical.
• Worldliness. What kind of movies do you watch together? Do you have a friend who would rather go shopping than to Bible study? And would Jesus be comfortable with the things you talk about and the places you go?

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Okay then, how do you make and keep good friendships? Many years ago I learned three important lessons from Proverbs 18:24: “A man [or woman] who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (NKJV). First of all, don’t wait for the other person to be the first one to reach out. Second, be a true friend, especially when someone is going through a hard time; it makes your bond sweeter and deeper. Third, never allow a friend to take the place of your friendship with Jesus; he is the one who sticks closer than a brother or sister.

One Year Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 34:1—Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22–14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26