Who Is Your Friend

I have been meditating on Friendships lately and I remember a fellowship I created several years ago called, The Friendship Centre (TFC). Thinking about the Word 'Friend' has been thought provoking and got me in a reflective mood because of an experience that happened to someone last week.

The Person that he called 'Friend' backstabbed him twice in a week on a very sensitive reputation threatening matter; the fellow just didn't stand up for his friend and refused to back him under pressure. He felt distraught and heart broken, and I had to encourage him as best as I could.

The Bible says too many things about Friendships but one or two of my best verses are here quoted:

Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but kisses of an enemy are deceitful - (Prov 27 v 6)

A Friend loves at all times and a Brother is born for adversity - (Prov 17 v 17)

Iron Sharpens Iron, So does a man sharpens the countenance if his friend - (Prov 27 v 17)

The above verses are stimulating to the mind and refreshing to the soul because true friends are one of the biggest gifts from heaven. It takes years to develop Friends and true friendship is always Tested by Situations and Crisis. It was the hatred of Saul towards David that tested the Friendship between Jonathan and David. The prince stood with his friend against his father the king and was willing to lose the throne because of the love he had towards David.

7 TESTS OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP

SPEAKS THE TRUTH ALWAYS: True friends don't flatter themselves but speak the truth to nurture their friendship without breaking it. The wounds of a friend in words are faithful than the kisses of the enemy.

STANDS WITH YOU IN TROUBLE: There are fair weather friends and true friends. The former only stand with you when all is rosy and good while the latter will never depart from you even when the going is tough and rough. So many people deserted Jesus at the Cross, but John stood by Him.

ADDS VALUE TO EACH OTHER: This is indeed very debatable but I 'Iron Sharpens Iron' hence friends should add value to each other and make themselves better not worse. Your friendship with someone should sharpen you and make you better morally and in other areas.

LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY: I had to break off with one of my friends some years ago because I found out he was only friends with me for what he could benefit from me even though I 'longed' for his presence always. 'A Friend Loves At All Times...', unconditionally and most sincerely.

DEFENDS YOU IN PUBLIC: This is a major factor that breaks marriages, spouses who are true friends and lovers always defend themselves in public and not expose themselves. After all, Love Covers Multitude Of Sins.

YOUR PRESENCE IS NEVER BORING: This is another test of true friendship, even though I don't see one of my sweetest friends always but whenever we see each other, we spend hours talking and playing, we are never bored and always look forward to the next time we shall see ourselves.

FORGIVENESS OF ERRORS: This is the last on my list of Tests of True Friendships, how quickly and easily we forgive ourselves reveal if we are friends.

I hope you have discovered who Your True Friends are from the above Tests of True Friendship, the list is not exhausted so I'm open to additions, kindly send me a mail and let me know your thoughts.

Many blessings.

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