What Kind Of Friends Do We Have?

True friends are like diamonds — very precious and rare. They will listen to our problems, stand up for us when we are in the right; are happy when we succeed, and sad when we fail. They provide us wise counsel in order to prevent us from making foolish choices.

A true friend will even risk making us angry for the sake of keeping us in alignment with what is right. In fact, friends are essential for our emotional, physical, and spiritual development and well-being.

One of the best known friendships recorded in the Bible, is the close intimate friendship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 1 Samuel 19-20). Jonathan was the rightful heir to be next in line to be king over Israel. However, Jonathan knew that the Lord had chosen David to fill that office (1 Samuel 16:1-13), so instead of promoting himself, he chose to risk his own life to save his beloved friend, David, from certain death (1 Samuel 20).

The Bible admonishes us to choose godly friends, because they can provide us with practical godly advice (Proverbs 12:26). If we choose friends who are friends of God (James 2:23); cf. 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8), they will strengthen our relationship with Him (1 Samuel 23:13-18).

Now the question becomes, "What kind of friends do we have?"

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets