Fragrant Friends

 

 Prov 27:9

 

9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend

is as sweet as perfume and incense.

 

 

What a blessing of God it is to have treasured friends.  Life is full of acquaintances, but true friends are few in a lifetime. When others fall away during difficult times, a friend remains.  When a friend sees your weaknesses, they love you no less.  A friend is divine provision.

Everyone in life is searching for love, acceptance and affirmation.  One way that we offer Jesus to a hurting world is through friendship.  When we invest in people's life as true friends, it earns us the right to speak counsel to them.  We cannot do this in an unnatural or strategic way.  People can tell when we are inauthentic or just befriending them with an agenda.  We have to be genuine.  We have to be interested in others and willing to invest of ourselves. 

Sometimes friendship requires us to speak painful truths to each other.  A  real friend tells the truth when a lie would be easier. A real friend  walks through the painful stuff with us and listens to our tired, old stories  and complaints and still cares.  When you have a friend that loves you enough to give you Godly counsel, show appreciation to them.  Welcome their feedback as the fragrant gift that it is, and strive to be the kind of friend they need in return.

If you are lonely for friendships, begin to ask the Lord to send you friends.  He knows how to meet your needs.

Dear Lord, thank you for blessing me with Godly, supportive friends.  Help me to be a good friend too, and to be a friend to those who need You.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.