In the complexities and trials of life, nothing stands as a pillar of support quite like a true friend. A friend, in the purest sense, is not just a companion. They are a confidante, a source of comfort, and a beacon of hope during the darkest times. But what does it mean to be a true friend? And why is friendship such a necessary part of our lives?
Drawing from the biblical story of David and Jonathan, we can extract three key ingredients that make a friendship strong, resilient, and life-changing: consistency, openness, and common passion.
Consistency: The Backbone of Friendship
Proverbs 18:24 tells us, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Consistency is the first ingredient in the recipe for great relationships. A true friend doesn’t perform a cost-benefit analysis or abandon us when times are tough. They stick around, regardless of the circumstances, offering unwavering support and companionship.
Openness: The Heart of Friendship
The soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul (1 Samuel 18:1).
Openness, the ability to share our deepest fears, thoughts, and emotions, is the heart of friendship. True friends give us perspective, offer correction when needed, and stand by us in our darkest moments. They humanize us and remind us that we are not alone in our struggles.
Common Passion: The Engine of Friendship
John 15:15 tells us, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
This shared passion, this united purpose, is the engine that drives friendship. It’s what binds friends together and gives depth to their relationship.
The Power of Friendship
David would not have survived the most dangerous period of his life without the friendship of Jonathan. Similarly, we may survive, but we will not thrive without God-given relationships. Harvard University’s study on happiness, spanning 80 years and including over 1300 participants, concluded that happiness is most profoundly influenced by the quality of our relationships.
Applying the Power of Friendship
To harness the power of friendship, we need to be proactive. Identify your 2 am friend, the one you can call at any time, and express your gratitude for them. Be that 2 am friend for someone else.
Unite with others around the passions of Jesus—knowing the Father and seeing His Kingdom come. And remember,
a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).
Paul Benger 