Friends
A newspaper ran a contest for the best definition of a friend. The winning entry among thousands was, “A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.” This is exactly what the Bible said: “A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17a, New International Version). I like how the Contemporary English Version translated it. “A friend is always a friend...”
Peppers Rodgers, head coach of UCLA football team, saw first-hand who his friends really were. Many years ago, his team suffered a losing streak. Rodgers came under so much fire from alumni and fans. Things got so really bad that friends became scarce. “My dog was my only true friend,” Rodgers lamented. He told his wife, “Every man needs at least two good friends.” That’s why his wife bought him another dog. (Adapted from Today in the Word, November 1996.) Poor Rodgers! The world has gone out. But no friend came in.
A true friend has staying power. Proverbs 18:24 declared: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24) The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language goes like this: “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” It’s much like the message of a famous song, “In good times and bad times, I’ll be on your side forever more. That’s what friends are for.”
Where can you find such a friend? Of course, there are people like that around you. Your friendship just has to stand the test of time and trouble. Yet, the Bible declares there is Someone who can be the truest of the true friends we can have. “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2:23) God is saying, “You’ve got a friend in me.” The only requirement is that we believe in Him. And He will always be your true friend who sticks by you like family even if the world has gone out.
Brethren, be a friend of God.
Peppers Rodgers, head coach of UCLA football team, saw first-hand who his friends really were. Many years ago, his team suffered a losing streak. Rodgers came under so much fire from alumni and fans. Things got so really bad that friends became scarce. “My dog was my only true friend,” Rodgers lamented. He told his wife, “Every man needs at least two good friends.” That’s why his wife bought him another dog. (Adapted from Today in the Word, November 1996.) Poor Rodgers! The world has gone out. But no friend came in.
A true friend has staying power. Proverbs 18:24 declared: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24) The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language goes like this: “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” It’s much like the message of a famous song, “In good times and bad times, I’ll be on your side forever more. That’s what friends are for.”
Where can you find such a friend? Of course, there are people like that around you. Your friendship just has to stand the test of time and trouble. Yet, the Bible declares there is Someone who can be the truest of the true friends we can have. “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2:23) God is saying, “You’ve got a friend in me.” The only requirement is that we believe in Him. And He will always be your true friend who sticks by you like family even if the world has gone out.
Brethren, be a friend of God.
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