Friendship

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses (Proverbs 27:5-6, NIV).

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel (Proverbs 27:9, NIV).

Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you--better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away (Proverbs 27:10, NIV).

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17, NIV).

Friendship is the theme of these verses. A good friend is a gift from God. Someone said that “a friend is one who walks in when others walk out.” A friend is loyal, but not a “yes man.” A friend is one who will tell you the truth straight up, even when that truth is unpleasant.

Friendship is not easy. It requires effort to build and maintain. Sometimes you are disappointed. There is always a risk. But risk should never measured by what you stand to lose, but by what you stand to gain. And with friendship you stand to gain a lot.

As men we are taught that it is weird to love another man. Something just seems icky about that! But that idea is an outright lie straight out of hell! It is possible for one man to love another man in a way that is holy. David loved Jonathan. There was nothing perverted about it. Such love does not degenerate a man, but actually ennobles and makes him a better man.

God designed us for relationships. Bad relationships weaken us. Godly relationships not only bless us but make us better. We cannot be all that God created us to be without friends.

I love you.

Bro. George