![[Photo of a Scripture verse]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/children_hand_in_hand.jpg)
| “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” |
| —Proverbs 18:24 |
Genuine friendship represents a quality whose value we simply cannot measure. More valuable than silver or gold, the love, companionship, acceptance, and support of a friend can tip the balance of our lives in our favor—even when we feel assailed on every side by the cares and trials of this world.
Celebrate the joys of friendship this day. Even more so, celebrate the joy of having a friend like the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who “sticks closer than a brother.”
When God graciously brings loving friends into our lives, we must make certain that we thank Him for this evidence of His love and care. We need to recognize that, through the friends He gives us, God shows how determined He is to shower us with His love.
At the same time, we must not become ensnared by so-called “friends” who lead us down a dark path. Instead, we must turn away from those who would direct us toward evil. We must not allow false loyalties to jeopardize our faithfulness to God and to His written Word.
Let this be a day during which we rejoice in the friendships God has given us. We should take time to tell our friends how much we appreciate them. We can let them know that we do not take their friendship for granted.
At the same time, we can become instruments of God’s love in the lives of our friends. We can show them compassion, kindness, support, and acceptance. We can build them up in their faith. We can be an example to them. We can shower them with mercy and grace.
The Christian writer, Jonathan Merritt, has said it well:
In showing God’s love to your friends, when a person is truly important to you, you don’t “find time” for him or her. Rather, you “make time” for him or her.
