Do You Have Real Friends?

I recently found myself very thankful for the people God has brought to my life - both personally and professionally. I tend to think of myself as a giver. I give to charity. I give to friends. I give….but I can be stingy with my time. I have to make intentional efforts to spend my time doing for others. 

In fact, this blog is a good example. I mean, I love writing and I’m so blessed that God trusted me to do this every week, but I have to be intentional to get it done….hence this late night post. I realized I needed to write this post this morning and am just making time for it. I make time for other things as well, but again I have to be intentional with my time. Those things I make time for are important to me or important to the people who are important to me. Those are the people I will bend over backwards for, the ones I will sacrifice for, the ones I call friends. 

God has placed people in my life to help me along the way, too. They are generous with their time and talents and they push me….sometimes more than I might like, but definitely for my good. That is what a friend is. By definition, a friend is one who is attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard; one who is not hostile; a favored companion. I would go on to add that a friend is one who cares for you and wants the best for you and will do their part to make sure you have what is best for you. 

I have been blessed with several people who fall into this category. Whether it’s needing someone to review an application package, or regularly feed me, or help me purge and pack up a house I’ve lived in for almost 20 years, I have been blessed with real friends who go the distance with me – accepting me for who I am with all my faults and loving me just the same (Prov 17:17). They show me daily the love of Christ and I am forever grateful to see and feel it in the flesh. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that they love me no matter what. Will they call me on my “ish”? Absolutely, but they are still there…..whether I’m in a place to deal with it right then or not (Ecc 4:10). They walk through this life with me and I’m reminded of Jesus walking with the disciples. Even when they messed up, he admonished them and then they went on about the Father’s business. 

I don’t know if you have friends like mine, but you should check your inventory. If you don’t, you may want to ask yourself why. In order to have friends, you must be a friend (Prov 18:24). You can’t take, take, take and expect someone to stick around. Friendship works both ways – both parties give and take. No matter how much someone has or how many talents they possess, they were not created to give everything and receive nothing. Luke 6:38 says, “Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.” Giving is not just about money and it’s not just about the tithe (although it is obedient to consistently pay your tithe). Giving is about thinking about someone other than yourself and providing for a need. I thank God daily for the people he’s put in my life and I pray you have some real friends too. If you don’t, pray and ask God to send some your way, but remember you have to do your part, too.