He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV)
We need friends of all types—people we know casually and those we trust infinitely. Some friends are close, lifelong confidants. With others, you maintain the relationship because of a common interest like golf or a shared commitment like work or school.
Jesus had different kinds of friends, too. His closest friend was John. He had two other close friends, Peter and James, and a total of twelve friends that He spent the majority of His time with.
Friendships bring great joy in life; however, we need to choose our friends wisely. Although none are perfect, there are a few specific characteristics to look for when selecting close friends:
1. Honesty. The little things speak the loudest. Do they talk behind other’s backs and look for ways to cheat others?
2. Humour. Do they take things too seriously or can they help you to laugh in difficult times? Can they laugh at themselves?
3. Big thinking. Find friends you can dream with. They will spur you on to do great things.
4. Generous. Generous friends aren’t stingy with their time or resources—they’ll even fight you for the bill at dinner. They are a joy to be around.
Like Jesus, be intentional about who you let into your inner circle. Examine their characteristics because most likely those same attributes will rub off onto you.