Learning To Be A Good Friend

In review of Proverbs 17:17 it says, A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Bottom Line:

Friends are always loyal and show their love at all times. Like close family, you're there to share in times of trouble or need.

What this means to me:

If I am to be a good friend, then I need to be loyal and show love whenever possible. Like family, I am to share and serve others in times of trouble or need.

Overall, good relationships will take time. They will not happen by accident. They take cultivation, work, and time in order to build a deep connection with somebody. And this requires my commitment.

Proverbs tells me, “A friend loves at all times.” That means even when it’s inconvenient, when I don’t personally feel like it, even when they may not deserve it, even at any personal cost to myself. That’s what real friendship is all about.

True friends are the ones in your corner when you’re cornered. And they see you through when everybody else thinks you’re through. They walk in when everybody else walks out.

What I’m learning is that I don’t need many friends to make it in this world but I do need a few good ones. I should focus on quality not quantity. I can have many acquaintances but that means nothing. The acquaintances are not going to be there in the crisis. They’re not going to be there when I need them. Friends will. Every important close connection begins with a commitment.

At every stage of my life I’m going to need these kinds of relationships. I’m going to need a group of people for different reasons in different ways. I need to get connected. I need people in my life. In summary, I need to give and I need to receive.

Larry Crabb in his book “Connecting” mentions, “When two people really connect, something is poured out of one and into the other that has the power to heal the soul of its deepest wounds and restore it to health. The one who receives, experiences the joy of being healed. And the one who gives, knows even greater joy of being used to heal.” I know I have experienced this, especially as it relates to giving. It’s always good to hear that what I’ve done or shared with someone is helpful to them.

So no matter what’s going on in my life, I need to make myself available to my friends when they need it. If I’m short on time or have commitments, I can always ask God to help me accomplish and complete the other things I have going on in life that I need to temporarily set aside.