Introduction: Have you got a real “friend”? If you do, please let them know you LOVE them. Real “Friends” are rare. At the same time, Solomon writes that in order to have a “Friend,” you must show yourself friendly. 

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.” (Prov 18:24)

So how can we develop friendships that last a lifetime? Here are some helpful insights from the Bible:

1. Learn to Forgive!

“17A friend loveth at all times…” (Prov 17:17a)

2. Learn to be Available!

“17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Prov 17:17b)

3. Learn to Sacrifice!

“And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 2But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself.” (1Sam 19:1,2)

3. Learn to Give!

“1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul…… 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.” (1Sam 18:1-3)

4. Learn to Encourage!

“17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Prov 27:17)

The word “countenance” is  פָנִים (paw-neem’), which means face, faces. 

5. Learn to go the extra mile!

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

6. Learn to be patient!

“13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Col 3:13)

7. Learn to show compassion!

“4To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend.” (Job 6:14)

8. Learn to help up each other!

“9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” (Eccl 4:9-10)

9. Learn to Pray for each other!

“16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

10. Learn that Jesus is the Best friend we can have!

“…and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Prov 18:24)

11. Learn to Share Jesus!

“20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

Conclusion: Did you write down that list? It is probably a good idea to review those Scriptural principles and then evaluate to see if you are being A Real Friend!

Thanks for being a FRIEND!