Blessings of a Friend

A good and Godly friend is a treasure – something to thank God for. I think of the deep and rich friendships I have had in my life so far – and I also marvel at the beautiful friendships I have witnessed in others’ lives, that have survived more years than I have been alive!

Here are a few blessings of Godly friends:

Godly friends help us to see our flaws and improve

Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another. ~ Proverbs 27:17

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
    profuse are the kisses of an enemy. ~ Proverbs 27:6

Or as the NIV puts it, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted.” Friends can tell us truths that may hurt in the moment but will better us for eternity.

Godly friends help heal other wounds.

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing. ~ Proverbs 12:18

Godly friends are loyal

A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ~ Proverbs 18:24

Godly friends help lift us up when we fall

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Good friends help encourage us to keep going even when things are hard.

Godly friends love us even when we are unlovable

A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity. ~ Proverbs 17:17

They say “enemies love us in spite of our good points. Friends love us in spite of our flaws.” It’s true! Godly friends keep loving us even when we are going through hard things – and even when we are being “hard to love.” How thankful I am for the friends He has placed in my life – and for how they have continued to put up with me!

Of course, in order to have good friends, we must be a good friend too. May we all strive to be this kind of friend to the people around us today!

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash