Recognizing and Being A Good Friend

We all want to have good friends and it’s a challenge to all of us to then also be a person who is a good friend to others.  What are some marks of a good friend?

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

Proverbs 20:6

I suppose what comes to mind when looking at this words is simply that a friend is reliable or dependable.  Who hangs around when everyone else walks out?  Who’s willing to help when it’s not convenient?  Who will just be with us when the going is tough, maybe not with convenient answers, but with caring presence.  Now that’s a friend

A true friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Proverbs 17:17

I suppose another word for reliable is to be constant.  A true friend continues to be loyal and present when we haven’t got a lot to offer back to them for a season.  They don’t just hang around when it makes them feel better or meets a particular purpose in their life.

There are “friends” who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Proverbs 18:24

And then even though it’s not maybe so much fun in the moment, I appreciate true friends who are willing to speak inconvenient but necessary truths.

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 27:5-6

We all have blind spots and limited perspectives.  One of the great benefits of good friends is that we can gain new ideas and understandings as they share their perspective with us and even words of correction when we’ve gotten things wrong.

Help us, Loving God to choose our friends well and to be good friends.  Help us to be those who can be relied on during changing seasons and circumstances.  Give us grace to both receive and offer truth in love so we can all grow up in living well for you today, honouring Your command to love You with all we are and to love others as we love ourselves. Amen

Why not take a moment today to think about some of those people who have been good friends in this and other seasons of our lives.  Let’s give thanks for them, and if we can, share a word of appreciation with them.