Friends love through all kinds of weather. Proverbs 17:17 (MSG)
We can tend to want to find great friends who will meet our needs, but friendship is really about doing life together. It’s about sharing in the good times and helping each other through difficult seasons.
Here is what Proverbs has to say about being there for our friends:
1. Have an undying loyalty to your true friends. Proverbs 27:10 (NLT) says Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s.
This verse is not talking about being loyal to those who are hurting you; keep yourself safe from unsafe people and have healthy boundaries. However, you can stay loyal to your friends even if they make mistakes. When you treat friends with love, acceptance and forgiveness, you give them the chance to change and grow.
2. Love unconditionally. It’s easy to be the friend of someone popular, happy and well-respected but loving a friend who is at a low requires a kind of love that isn’t contingent on behaviour. Being a true friend means that you don’t make people earn your love. You love them as they are—flaws and mistakes included.
In close friendships, communication flows and there is a healthy give and take. Each person focuses more on the other’s needs than their own. Don’t be a martyr, but put the majority of your focus on the things you can do to be a great friend. You’ll be amazed at how your needs are met in the process.