A friend loves at all times. When you’re up, they’re not envious, when you’re down, they’re not condescending.
Proverbs make it clear that true friendship is based on love because only love will endure the tests that friends experience as they go through life together.
We may have many companions and no real friends. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Pro. 18:24
Friendship is something that must be cultivated, and its roots must go deep. Friends must be constant with each other. That is not true friendship which is not constant. Friends, like swallows, that fly to you in summer, but are gone in winter are no loss. But if I love my friend because he is wise and good, though he falls into poverty and disgrace, still I shall love him.
Christ is a friend that loves at all times (John 13:1) and we must so love Him, Rom. 8:35. Relations must also in a special manner be tender of one another in affliction. Some take it thus: “A friend that loves at all times is born (that is, “becomes”) a brother in adversity and is so to be valued.”
Blessings,
Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes
TWFYT|WSB|FLSB|MHSB [TheChurchWithinYou! podcast]
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