While in my early school years, one of the first lessons I learned was that being part of a group isn’t the most important thing. Though I wanted acceptance, being part of a group proved disappointing — in my case, destructive:
4 Even a man who has many companions can be destroyed. But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. - Proverbs 18:24.
Real friendship can rarely be created in lots of relationships. Only with time can a true friend be found. As I was hurt I began to separate myself from the group and instead, spent most of my time in only a couple friendships.
The more we hung out, the more I saw their character. And even though we once had a fight in the cafeteria (over something neither of us can remember), our friendship had grown deep enough to overcome that silly fight.
So what made this friend different from the others?
He was honest and trustworthy. Not only did he tell me about his life and share his struggles, but also I could trust him enough to share my own hopes, fears, and sins. And I could accept his “wounds from a friend” — his advice against poor decisions and suggestions about my spiritual walk — which helped me grow and stay on a straight path
Proverbs 27:6 (New Living Translation) - Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Proverbs 17:17 (New Living Translation)- A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
I could count on him to be there when I needed him —
We can’t help but be like by the people around us, and the influence of a friend who was pursuing holiness and wisdom could only bring good things in my life. No, he wasn’t perfect, but he was growing in wisdom, and I was “[walking] with the wise” that I might grow wise as well (Proverbs 13:20).
Proverbs 13:20 (New Living Translation)- Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
“Bad company corrupts good character” (I Corinthians 15:33).
But this growth isn’t always easy. Proverbs 27:17 describes it this way: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Iron against iron means metal is being chipped away. What’s left is being refined for effectiveness – but that certainly isn’t always painless or fun.
It’s never too late to choose iron-sharpening friends.
Don’t settle for fool’s gold when you can have the real thing.
