Show Yourself Friendly Prov.18:24 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
You’re going to need friends and the best way to get one is to be one. You must show yourself friendly. A lot of people think that they don’t have friends because others aren’t friendly to them. In fact, they haven’t been friendly toward others.
Jesus showed himself friendly to us – he laid down his life for his “friends” – Jn 15:13
Jesus showed himself friendly to the world – He gave himself – Jn 3:16
We love him because he FIRST loved us – 1 Jn 4:19
So, we should take a lesson from Him – if you want to have friends you must be a friend to them – and you want the kinds of friends that are going to stick closer to you than a brother.
Good friends will:
Take care of you in trouble – Jonathan & David
Watch over your children when you are gone – David & Mephibosheth
Give you wise counsel – Hushai & David – unlike Amnon & Jonadab
Get in your face when you are out of line – Paul & Peter [beloved brother Paul]
Help you bear your load – Epaphroditus & Paul – LD said, “I’m here if you need me”
Stick with you when others won’t – Luke & Paul – not fair weather friends
Pray for you – Paul & Philemon
Fellowship with you – John & Gaius [3 Jn 1, 14]
Conclusion: If you want friends who will do these for you, you have to do these for them.