Who Can Find a Faithful Friend?

"A friend loves at all times."

(Proverbs 17: 17, NIV)

 

In today's world, true friends are in short supply, but in high demand, for there are many lonely people who are crying out for a true friend to walk by their side through life's journey. While other people have many friends, but are quite blessed if even one of them is a true friend. "Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?" (Prov. 20: 6, NASB). Because of the selfish nature in man, often friendships are formed for the wrong reasons. Unknown to the potential friend, the other person may only want to be a friend because of what's in it for him or her.

 

Then there are friendships that we may make with people that are shallow. Such friends only want you to tell them what they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear. Often, such friends will not say anything to such people in fear they may lose the friendship. The question needs to be asked in such situations: 'Is he or she really my friend if they are not open to receiving from me what they do not want to hear?' What such people don't realize is that such a friend never really was their friend to begin with. In friendships, there is to be expected a certain measure of conflict followed by a resolution. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Prov. 27: 17, NIV). True friendships are based on such principles. It's how we learn and grow. We should expect at times that our real friends are going to challenge us and tell us things about ourselves we don't want to hear. But it is only for our good. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27: 6, NASB). Did not Judas pretend to be our Lord's friend, but in the end betrayed him with a "kiss?" (see Matt. 26:47-49; Luke 22:47-48). Beware of such friends who only pretend, and hold on to the ones who are true and precious.