A friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association. There are many forms of friendship and certain characteristics are portrayed.
Such characteristics include affection, kindness, love, virtue, sympathy, empathy, honesty, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, mutual understanding and compassion, enjoyment of each other's company, trust, the ability to be oneself, expressing your feelings to each other, and when mistakes are made, there is no fear of judgement.
People who are friends talk to each other and spend time together. They trust one another and help each other. Friends are people that you look up to and trust. Friendship is a bond between two people. There are demands and expectations in friendship.
In the King James version of the Bible, the word friend appears 33 times. The word friendly appears 3 times. The word friends appears 49 times and the word friendship appears twice.
Throughout the Bible, there are a number of friendships displayed. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see examples of friendships. Ruth and Naomi are great examples of friends. Naomi was Ruth's mother-in-law, they weren't just family, they were friends. They looked out for each other throughout their lives. "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thous lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16).
David and Jonathan became almost instant friends. Jonathan's friendship with David in 1 Samuel exemplifies true friendship. David was Israel's anointed king and when David called on Jonathan to demonstrate his faithfulness, Jonathan said, "Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee" (1 Samuel 20:4).
There is one that is the truest of all friends. His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus is a friend that is loyal and faithful. He watches out for us and we can confide in Him. He is a friend that shares His life with us and He gave up His life for us.
Jesus is our friend! On the night before He died, Jesus described what a really good friend is, He said to His disciples, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13).
These words of Jesus tells us the meaning of all He would do for us as a Friend. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus did this as a Friend!
The Bible has many examples of people who were friends with God. God called Abraham, His friend. "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God" (James 2:23).
King David was a man after God's own heart, because King David did what God commanded him to do. "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will" (Acts 13:22).
There has never been a truer Friend than Jesus. Jesus is our role model for being a true Friend and He defines the real meaning of friendship. Jesus is the perfect Friend. We can confide in Him. We can trust Him to hear our most deepest thoughts and share our emotions. We can share everything with Him.
Jesus is our greatest Friend! He draws near to us when we suffer. He never deserts us when we stumbles. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our darkest secrets and every thought that will be produced in our brain. And yet, He loves us so much more than anyone will ever love us. God our Lord, cares deeply and loves fully.
What an amazingly awesome Friend we have in Jesus. Jesus chose us, we didn't choose Him. He chose us as His friend. He died on that old rugged cross for us, as our Friend. He wants us to trust Him to be His Friend. He will always remain our Friend for all eternity. Oh, what a Friend we have in Jesus!
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