Having a friend in life is comforting, rewarding, satisfying and a companionship that can last for an eternity. Do you have friends? Do you consider yourself a “real” friend or a person who is a friend only when they enjoy the company of another person? A friend is a person whom one knows well and is fond of, it can be an ally, supporter, or sympathizer. A friend is someone people trusts and feels closeness to them.
It’s my opinion that friends are like family and I treat them as such. The Holy Bible, King James Version and in the New Testament in the Book of John 15:13, the Bible tells people, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Jesus’ example of true Christian friendship is that his love for people is sacrificial and it is never selfish. He demonstrated his love by washing the disciples’ feet, healings of the sick and as he laid down his life on the cross for all of us.
People cannot choose their friends based on job positions, what they have financially or the type of vehicles they drive, friends are chosen from the sincerity trustworthiness of an individual and the bonding that grows between them. In the Bible in Epistle of Paul in Philippians and in Chapter 2, Verse 3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
A true friend never considers that they’re better than their friend but they should remember how Jesus treated others. People should put their friends’ needs above their own and when they do they’ll demonstrate a love like Jesus did.
In the Bible in the Old Testament and in the Book of Proverbs Chapter 17: 17, it tells people, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
True friends are those that overlook short-comings, weaknesses and the flaws that all humans have a tendency toward. A friend realizes others have problems and adversities as well as they do and they accept their hindrances. There’s not a person on this earth that doesn’t have imperfections and miserable attitudes; and it takes two people to misunderstand or hurt another’s feelings. It also takes forgiveness and an acceptance of forgiveness to keep a friend close-by. People should never allow a menial event to ruin a precious friendship.
The Bible tells us in the Old Testament and in the Book of Proverbs Chapter 18: 24, “A man that has friend must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
In this verse of the Bible, it is revealing that a true Christian friend is trustworthy, emphasizing a second truth as well though; and this is people should share complete trust with only a few loyal friends because when people trust too soon can lead to a person’s ruin and to be careful not to put your confidence in a mere companion. True Christian friends prove their trustworthiness as they stick closer than a brother or a sister.
It’s great to have a friend but people must be careful not to suffocate them and become too nosey and controlling; after-all, no-one wants a person instructing them how and what to do at all time. A good friend steps back and only provides advice when asked. All people need their own space and their own secrets; and in order for the relationship to grow and to be healthy a friend must be wise and know their limits in a friendship. A true friend is never nosey and never intrudes in a marital relationship this is totally off-limits. (1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy.”)
True Christian friends will build-up each other through all circumstances they will face together; and they’ll never speak wrongly about their friends to others. Friends provide a listening ear but are to be careful not to extend over the boundaries of personal privacy. Many times a true friend must tell a friend what they need to hear and a person will know when this occurs. A friend understands the heart of their friend and can get a point across where no-one else would dare go to. (Proverbs 27: 6, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted.”)
Wouldn’t it be beneficial to the world if everyone abided by these rules for having a great friendship and relationship in our societies? It would end lots of controversies and misunderstandings in our world.
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this article and it is based on the Holy Bible, King James Version and in the Old and New Testaments and Chapters and Verses as listed)