What Is A Friend?
Our friends have an enormous influence on our lives, for either good or bad. Our peers may be used, by either God or Satan, to build us up or tear us down. As in Job's case, our companions may be precision tools used by the devil with ingenious skill to pry open our hearts for despair and despondency. This truth is taught throughout the Scripture. Solomon wrote, “A man of too many friends may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24, NASB95) One must choose his or her friends wisely because in the day of adversity, they will either lift us up or pull us down. A true friend will stand with us in times of trouble and will be used by the Lord for our good. Proverbs 17:17 reminds us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” When we find ourselves in the furnace of affliction, a genuine friend will provide much relief and strength. At the same time, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33). May God surround us with true friends who, unlike Job’s “friends”, will genuinely love us and help us in our times of adversity.