Do you have true friends? If you do you are blessed indeed! What is a friend? Webster defines a friend as “ One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy.” Proverbs gives a lot of insight to this truth.

Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Here we see the importance of a good friend. A friend may not always agree with you, but he always wants the best for you. Like a surgeon, friends cut you in order to heal you. – Tim Keller. Paul in writing to the Galatians to correct an error in their doctrine said, “Am I your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Of course, Paul only wanted the best for these dear people.

As much as we see the value of a true friend in the Scriptures, we see the warnings of having a false friend. “He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God.” – Abraham Kuyper. Of course, the opposite would be true.

Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

2 Peter 3:17, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”

Matthew 15:4, “…if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Malachi 2:8, “But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble…”

It is amazing the influence a friend can have on someone for good or bad. We are all on a journey through life and are in need of good Godly council and guidance.

The Psalmist, speaking of God and His Word said, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” What better guide than God! What better friend and guide than one who is led by God!

Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD; and he delighteth in his way.” Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

This guidance is needed in every part of life. I Timothy 5:14, “…the younger women marry,…guide the house…” Psalm 112:5, “A good man…will guide his affairs with discretion.” Jeremiah 3:4, “…the guide of my youth?”

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.
– Arnold H. Glasgow

The sign on the back of a trailer read, “If I’m not headed west, stop me and turn me around.” It is a blessing to have someone to point that out and it is a blessing to want it to be pointed out! Some people go a long way in the wrong direction. Thank God for a good friend.