The Real Definition of a True Friend

Have you ever asked yourself what a true friend really is? Anything that is true, cannot be false. We know that truth last forever so why is it that true friends sometimes seem to be temporary. How much of our lives should we turn over to a friend? How much trust should we put into a friendship?

These are questions that many people have so let's talk about this a little and we will see what the Bible says about this. As a father, I would easily give my life for my children but would I give my life for a friend. Do I have friends that would give their lives for me.

The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend for He laid down His life for His "friends." What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as their personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.

There is an example of true friendship between David and Saul's son Jonathan, who in spite of his father Saul's pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, stood by his friend. You will find that story in 1 Samuel chapter 18 through chapter 20. Some pertinent passages are 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42.

Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). The issue here is that in order have a friend, one must be a friend. "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses" (Proverbs 27:6). " As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).

The principle of friendship is also found in Amos. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed" (Amos 3:3 KJV). Friends are of like mind. The truth that comes from all of this is a friendship is that relationship that is entered into by individuals, and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it. Someone has said that if you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand, you are blessed. A friend is one whom you can be yourself with and never fear that they will judge you. A friend is someone that you can confide in with complete trust. A friend is someone you respect and that respects you, not based upon worthiness but based upon a likeness of mind.

Finally, the real definition of a true friend comes from the Apostle Paul: "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8). "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13). Now, that is true friendship!

No matter how many friends you have, Jesus is the greatest friend you can ever have. All you have to do is ask Him to be your friend and your savior. You can ask Him to come into your heart and He will never and I mean never forsake you.