Friendship - Day 73

Your close confidant. The one who you sit down with every week and talk about your lives. The one who you hang out with when the times are good. And then you cry with them when times are rough. They're the people who you can trust to not stab you in the back. The ones who will be there when your first child is born and there at the graveside of your father's passing.

In America, the number of true friendships people have has dropped significantly. For many people they have no close confidants. Now Facebook has replaced this need. Why do you need real friends when you have a bunch of fake ones on social networking sites?

For one thing, good friends are hard to find.

Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

They're a treasure you must cherish. To have friends, you must show yourself friendly.

Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

You can't expect people to be friends with you if you are continually pushing them away. But, you have to remember that when others push you away, it may be because they're having a bad day or they want friendship and they act like they don't.. Fight for the friendship. If you want good friends you have to enjoy the good days and fight your way through the bad ones.

John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Christ is our ultimate example of what a true friend is. And friends sacrifice. If you want to be known as a true friend, you have to be willing to lay down your life. This could involve finances, this could involve relationships, many aspects of life, and maybe even dying.

Look at those who you call friends and ask yourself, can I lay down my life for these people.

Picture of the day #73: