Friends, Friendships, True Friends

Life can throw us us some pretty hard fast balls, curve balls, and sometimes peg us. A year ago, I had 2 very close friends devastate our relationships with each other. It has caused me to go through several steps:
Anger
Low self esteem
Sadness
Mistrust
Resentment
Forgiveness
Hope
Reflection
Restoration


"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:13-15)

I am not gonna kill you with scripture.... but,... one more: "And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:5-10)

I am by no means perfect or the prefect friend, family member, spouse, business man, etc... However, I have never betrayed a friend, a family member, spouse, or business acquaintance.  Nor could I


1.  THERE ARE ONLY A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS

Prov. 18:24 "He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction:
but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."


2. A FRIEND GIVES HIS LIFE

John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends."

3. A FRIEND KNOWS YOU

John 15:15 "But I have called you friends; for all things that I
heard from my Father I have made known unto you."

4. A FRIEND LOVES WITH NO CONDITIONS

Prov. 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for
adversity."

5. A FRIEND GIVES WISE ADVICE

Prov. 27:9 "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness
of a man's friend that cometh of hearty counsel."

6. A FRIEND SPEAKS THE TRUTH IN LOVE

Prov. 27:6 "Faithful are the wounds of a friend..."

The Bible tells us to "walk in the light" to have real fellowship with
each other (1 John 1:7). We all need somebody with enough love for us
to tell us the truth about ourselves. Not only what we want to hear, but
what we should hear as well.


7. A FRIEND ENCOURAGES

8. A FRIEND ISN'T AFRAID TO CLASH WITH YOU

Prov. 27:17 "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of
his friend."

9. FRIENDS ARE DELICATE

Prov. 26:18+19 "As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death; so
is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?"

To put it simply, a friend is aware of your sensitive areas. They refrain
from sarcasm, mean jokes and exposures.


10. FRIENDS ARE LOYAL

Prov. 16:28b "A whisperer separateth chief friends."
Prov. 17:9b  "He that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends."

In the hour of betrayal, with rumours and accusations, it will be obvious
who really stands by us.

I don't think we can decide one day that we are gonna run out and find this kind of friend.  They don't stock, backstock, or even inventory them at the 7-11...  it's a cultivation process that HAS to be mutual.
Just some thoughts.....