Friends.

"I misplaced our Christmas list. Now I haven't the slightest idea who our friends are."

-Anonymous

"To a friend's house the road is never long."

-Dutch Proverb

"Prosperity makes friends and adversity tries them. A true friend is one soul in two bodies."

-Aristotle

"I am wealthy in my friends."

-William Shakespeare

"He is a good friend who speaks well of me behind my back."

-Anonymous

"Friendship is like a bank account. You can't continue to draw on it without making deposits."

-Anonymous

"A true friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

-Anonymous

"Never abandon a friend--either yours or your father's. Then in your time of need, you won't have to ask your relatives for assistance. It is better to go to a neighbor than to a relative who lives far away."

-Proverbs 27:10

"A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need" (Proverbs 17:17).

"There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

"As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend" (Proverbs 27:17).

Here's one of my favorites:

"Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6).

What is a friend anyway? The dictionary says a friend is, "a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations." We know, for sure, that a friend is some we know, like, encourage, and who feels the same about us.

Let's face it, we need each other. If life is going to work for us, we've got to support, relate, respond, forgive, forget, confront, love, accept, tolerate, hug, help, encourage, and understand. Those are all things we need from others but those are all things we need to also give to others.

Here's a good word about relationships, friendships, from Romans:

"Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

"Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night" (Romans 12:9-13).

What does all that have to do with Proverbs 27:10? I'll show you. I want to focus only on the first four words of that verse: "Never abandon a friend . . ." The rest of the verse simply tells us that it's better to have helpful friends close by than helpful relatives far away. But look again at those first four words, "Never abandon a friend . . ." Those four words are pointed at us not at our friends. They clearly put the responsibility of friendship on us, not others. With that in mind, go back to the Romans passage and check out our responsibilities in never abandoning friends:

1. Let's really love our friends. Let's not be pretenders, fakers, and hypocrites but let's be real. Let's be really real! That means we need to love our friends no matter what. We know God shows unconditional love to us and we know we should love others the same way. We also know how tough it is to do that but we know we must try. Let's really love our friends.

2. Let's confront our friends when they're wrong and honor them when they're right. Remember those wounds from friends and, in love, confront our friends when necessary. Also, let's not forget the pats on the back, hugs, notes, and reminders that say, "You've done good! I love you."

Just a thought: When we are in a friendship for what we can get out of it, we usually will not confront the wrong in a friend's life. Why? Because we do not want to lose that friend. A real friend will confront no matter what the cost.

3. Be patient and prayerful with friends. We don't have perfect friends. As a matter of fact, there are no perfect people so there are no perfect friends and that includes us! Keep your friends high on your prayer lists and be patient as God works.

4. Help! A friend in need is a friend indeed.

5. Be hospitable. Not only should we invite friends into our homes but we should also use our homes as instruments for building new friendships. Love folks enough to spend time with them . . . in our homes.

And why should we do those things? Because people, all people, are important to God and worth the love and loyalty of really good friendships. Even when they don't deserve it or appreciate it. Life is tough enough to do it alone; let's be friends that stick closer than brothers. And let's not forget that those who do not know Christ need friends too. Jesus, our example, was labeled as " . . . a friend of the worst sort of sinners" (Matthew 11:19).

What's important is not what kind of friends we have but what kind of friends we are.

Loyal?