Here are four benefits of a true friendship: First, a true friend is someone who, when you feel like you have made a mess out of things and a fool out of yourself, still believes in you and reassures you that you haven’t done permanent damage. The Bible says, ‘There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother’ (Proverbs 18:24 NLT). Second, a true friend is someone who is there when the good times are not. The Prodigal Son discovered to his hurt that when your money runs out, many of your so-called friends go with it. Third, a true friend is someone who gets in your way when you are on your way down. James writes: ‘My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back…will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins’ (James 5:19-20 NLT). Solomon writes, ‘An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy’ (Proverbs 27:5-6 NLT). Fourth, a true friend is someone who comes in when the world walks out. The Bible says, ‘A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need’ (Proverbs 17:17 NLT). If you have friends like this in your life, treasure them – they’re a gift from God. And don’t just be a taker, be a giver. Go out of your way to be a true friend to someone else.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.