The Gift of Friendship

A friend loves at all times.   

Proverbs 17:17

My husband and I are richly blessed with many Christian friends. A few years ago, we retired and moved to Tyler, Texas, where we now live. We left some life-long friends and wonderful church friends back in Louisiana. However, we had prayed about our decision and felt a peace about such a move.

Friends are one of God’s most precious gifts to us. They provide fun and fellowship. They give us encouragement. They lovingly challenge us to “keep going” when times are tough. As our Scripture for today tells us, friends are available at all times.

Sometimes friends are difficult to find, especially when you move to another area. My mother used to tell me, “In order to find a friend, you must be a friend.” What a true statement!

Being a true friend is different from knowing someone well. A genuine friend will love at all times. He will be available to help in times of distress or struggles. He will put your needs before his needs.

What kind of friend are you? Are you willing to give up some of your precious time in order to help a friend? Are you willing to listen and encourage your friends? Are you always loyal to them?

Many people today feel cut off and alienated from others. We all need friends who will stick close to us. Do you know someone who is lonely? Do you know someone who feels that he has no one on whom he can depend? Perhaps this person needs your friendship.

Friends are a gift from God. I thank God daily for my friends. They are godly examples to me. They are my traveling companions. They are my entertainment. They bring me joy. They bring me comfort.

Georgia Andrus