Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
People of God, who are you sharing time with? You don’t choose your family members, your colleagues or who attends your church but you do choose who you share time with – your friends. And whether you realise it or not, you are shaped by who you share time with. No one is above influence.
There are many fake friends – those who are in the relationship for what they can get. But a friendship can only be fulfilling to the degree you help each other grow. In true friendship, giving is as natural as receiving.
As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). True friends are those who are not willing to sacrifice truth in the name of friendship. What does this mean? A true friend is unafraid and unashamed to speak the truth in love, even if that truth is not what you want to hear. You can speak truth without love but you cannot speak love without truth. A true friend will never sacrifice truth in the name of friendship because our loyalty is to God first. The overflow of that is love to others. So as Christians, a friendship should be based on genuine love, real love, not blind loyalty.
If you are truly close to someone, the closer you draw to them, the clearer insight you have into the real state of their lives, not just what is projected. When someone opens up to you and you discover a mess – will you leave them in that mess or help them get out? Today, make a decision to be a true friend and direct them in love to the truth – not just saying what is soothing to their ears but striking to their spirits.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, give me the grace to speak the truth in love and take up the responsibility that comes with the blessing of true friendship. In Jesus’ name, amen.