“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother…A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 18:24; 17:17).
A wise person is clearheaded about friends and friendship. A wise person knows:
- There are important differences between an acquaintance (someone you know and are able to get along with) and a friend (someone who stands by you when everyone else does not).
- That a BFF (Best Friend Forever) is a rare and precious treasure.
- That one BFF is vastly superior to a thousand acquaintances.
- That being approachable, cheerful, and winsome (i.e., friendly) is essential to cultivating and maintaining human relationships.
The righteous chooses his friends carefully. He knows a friend will either help him to be a better person (Prov. 27:17) or worse—the influence of a wicked friend is devastating (Prov. 12:26; 22:24). He knows the counsel of a righteous friend is trustworthy, especially when it is tough to hear (Prov. 27:6). He knows that loyalty is an essential ingredient to friendship (Prov. 27:10).
How blessed is the person who has a real BFF, a friend who loves at all times and sticks closer than a brother, especially in times of adversity!
I am blessed to have you as my BFF.