Friendship can be hard to define, but is wonderful to experience. Sometimes we are friends with people who are similar to ourselves, finding in another a kindred spirit: as C.S. Lewis once commented, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” ” Sometimes we are friends with people who are completely different to us; as people often say, ‘opposites attract.’ Friendship offers us acceptance, support, unconditional love and a feeling that we are not alone in the world.
Igor discovered some new friends in Oxford:
When I was a child, I had an ‘autograph’ book for people to write in words of wisdom. One person wrote out a poem on friendship:
“Make new friends, but keep the old
Those are silver, these are gold
New made friendships, like new wine
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test,
Time and change,is surely best.
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow grey
Friendship never knows decay.”
The Bible has much to say about friends:
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 TNIV)
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” (Proverbs 16:28 TNIV)
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26 TNIV)
Having good friends and being a good friend add to the joys of life. Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:14 TNIV) Being a friend of God is a privilege indeed!
‘Friend of God’, Israel Houghton