Friendspiration: What Is A True Friend

The definition of True Friendship, according to The Free Dictionary, is as follows:

  • The quality or condition of being friends
  • A friendly relationship
  • Friendliness; good will

According to Proverbs 18:24, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Friendship doesn’t need an invite. They can show up at your door with a caring, loving attitude to help us through a situation/circumstance that is going on in our lives without them realizing there is a need. A true friend:

  • Doesn’t unfriend you even if things get messy.
  • Believes and wants the best for you.
  • Accepts you for you.
  • Doesn’t abandon you.
  • Continues the friendship regardless of distance.
  • True friendship is love.

Just recently my husband and I visited with friends that we knew for approximately 20 years but we had not seen each other for the past five years. Yet, when we stopped by unexpectedly while visiting in the area, it was as if we had never lost touch. We discovered that they had their house on the market and would be moving out of state just as soon as their house sold. We reconnected during our time with them and will keep in touch even when they move away.

So it is with God’s love. He sticks closer than a brother and will never abandon us no matter what. We are a child of the King. Let us walk in love and become true friends who show love towards others.

Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be humble and gentle in every way. Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other.” This is the basis of true friendship.

May the Lord bless you as you rekindle lost friendships and discover new friends along the way.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Friendspiration: True Friendship

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

The Book of Proverbs is filled with verses pertaining to friendship and how it impacts our happiness and enjoyment with those who are around us each and every day.

At our local church, we have made it a practice to go out for lunch with our “lunch bunch” group almost every Sunday after the service. We have selected three different restaurants that we currently rotate to throughout the month and we welcome any one who would like to join us for lunch to do so. Sometimes we only have a small group of 5 and sometimes we will have a higher number who join us. For my husband and I, it has been a very rewarding and meaningful time; and the fellowship and friendships we enjoy each week have been such a blessing to our lives.

We have been able to talk about various topics from A-Z and no matter what our differences, we have grown to love and respect each other’s opinions and insights.

At this time, I have decided to do a post or two–or three–on what it means to be a true friend and to see what the Bible teaches us about this particular topic. Scripture verses will be from both the Old and New Testaments, as well as friendship quotes from other sources (individuals from the past/present) . My hope is that you will gain some additional knowledge or insight into God’s word as well.

Friendships can be with our spouses, family members, co-workers and those we grew up with but who live a greater distance away and friendships can also be rekindled as God brings us together through various circumstances that happen in our lives (i.e. graduations, weddings, reunions, deaths).

Let us be open to being a friend not only to those people we know but to individuals we meet that we don’t know as well. God will bless your life immensely!

Blessings,

Yvonne