Daily Devotional for Dec. 1, 2004 - One True Friend

"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

When you first read this verse, you are likely to miss the comparison due to the translation. The Hebrew word used for friendly actually means "to spoil" and is translated "to do evil" in many of the other Proverbs in which it is used. Consider the American Standard Version to make it a little clearer.

"He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

Most people strive to make friends and to be popular in school and then in business...sometimes even in church. We encourage our children to make friends with others, holding the biggest birthday parties imaginable so our child will be "liked." Most of us have experienced the heartache of going against the crowd and being shunned for it. According to this proverb, one true friend is much better than the problems that come with having many so-called "friends." Of course, this doesn't excuse us from helping, being kind and doing good works for others. However, maybe we should worry less about popularity and focus more on developing the friendships that last a lifetime and beyond into eternity. We should build these friendships with people who are going to bring us closer to heaven instead of pulling us away.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" II Corinthians 6:14

You don't have to "dump" the best friend you have had since kindergarten who is an unbeliever, just as new Christians were advised not to leave their unbelieving husbands (I Peter 3). But, you should strongly consider making your "best" friend, the friend you spend the most time with, a fellow Christian. Several have converted their friends throughout the years, but many, many more have strayed from the fold following after a "friend." Who are your friends?