
Two men camping in the forest were enjoying their morning coffee when, all of a sudden, they spotted a very large, hungry grizzly bear running toward them. One of the men quickly pulled on his running shoes. “Do you actually think you can outrun that grizzly bear?” his friend asked.
“I don’t need to,” he replied.
“All I have to do is outrun you.”
What a friend?! We all have had friends like that, haven’t we? At the first threat of danger or hardship or difficulty, they desert us.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
~John 15:13
Real friends:
- are willing to sacrifice
- loyally defend us before others
- give us freedom to be ourselves
- consistently encourage us
In 1 Samuel 18, 19 and 23, Jonathan and David show us what this kind of friendship looks like.
Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
~ 1 Samuel 18:3
It has been said that a true friend is one who walks in when others walk out.
That means that these kinds of friendships are a necessity.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend
who sticks closer than a brother. ~Proverbs 18:24
What can we do this week to cultivate real friendships?
Your Friend in Christ...