Need a Friend? Be a Friend

In our culture, people often claim to have many “friends.” In reality, many of those relationships would be more accurately described as associates or acquaintances. A true friend is more than someone we casually know or connect with online. A friend is someone we deeply care for, value, and enjoy spending time with. Friendship involves emotional connection, trust, mutual respect, loyalty, and personal investment. This kind of relationship goes far beyond the idea of social media friendships.

Proverbs 18:24 states:

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

The Hebrew word translated “friend” is ahēb, meaning to love, have affection for, beloved, or companion. Scripture defines friendship not merely as association, but as affectionate commitment and loyal connection.

The text teaches an important principle: If you want friends, you must first be a friend. Friendship does not begin with what others give to us, but with what we give to others. To be friendly means to demonstrate love, concern, loyalty, and availability. It means being willing to invest time, energy, encouragement, and sometimes sacrifice into another person’s life. True friendship is reciprocal, both parties invest and commit to the relationship. Friendship requires effort. It requires patience, forgiveness, humility, and consistency. It is not built overnight, and it cannot survive without intentional care.

A powerful biblical example of true friendship is found in the relationship between Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel 20. Their bond was marked by extraordinary love, loyalty, and covenant commitment. Jonathan’s friendship with David became stronger than even his loyalty to his own father, King Saul. Jonathan was willing to risk his position, safety, and future in order to protect David.

Their friendship is an example of what's required to be true friends:

• A deep connection

• Mutual respect

• Unwavering loyalty

• Covenant commitment and personal sacrifice

Jonathan’s willingness to protect David, even at great personal cost, shows what genuine friendship looks like. This is not a casual association, this is sacrificial love in action.

The message is simple but challenging:

If we desire meaningful friendships, we must be willing to become the kind of friend God calls us to be: loving, loyal, consistent, trustworthy, and selfless.

Need A Friend, Be A Friend....