As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
Having a good, true friend is worth more than gold. The Bible speaks of the importance of having good friends.
We are told in Proverbs 18:24 that it is not the quantity of friends, but the quality that matters. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 13:20 tells us we should choose wise friends, it says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companions of fools will suffer harm.”
Friends should encourage one another, we are told in Hebrews 10:25 that we should not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
And as our Scripture passage tells us, iron sharpens iron. Good friends don’t constantly sing our praise and tell us only what we want to hear. They tell us what we need to hear. They are there to be the voice of reason when we are overcome with emotion. They are there to hold us up when we are falling down. They are there to hold us accountable when we find ourselves getting off track.
Proverbs 27:9 tells us that oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. My friend if you only want to surround yourself with people who sing your praises and never tell you when you mess up, you are setting yourself up for failure. A true friend wants to help you by gently correcting you when you are wrong. I often speak of the danger of attending a church where the pastor and teachers only tell you what you want to hear. It is just as dangerous when someone you consider to be a close friend does the same. We all need to hear the truth.
For these reasons, we must be careful as to how we choose our friends. Proverbs 22:24-25 tells us not to make friends with someone who is quick to anger and give himself over to wrath because we may learn his ways and entangle ourselves in a snare.
We are warned against keeping bad company in 1 Corinthians 15:33 which tells us that bad company corrupts good morals.
God wants us to have friends, but like a good parent, He wants us to establish the right kind of friendships. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says that two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. If one falls the other will lift him up. Two lying together can keep warm. And never forget there is safety in numbers.
God wants us to form good, lasting friendships here on earth, but he wants us to associate with like-minded individuals. We are told to avoid those who are evil in Proverbs 4:27, Romans 12:9, and 1 Thessalonians 5:22.
Many of us associate with those who are evil because we hope to help them change their ways and see them go to heaven. We want to witness to them but don’t deceive yourself. If they refuse to listen, you must move on. Pray that you have planted a seed and God will send someone else to come along and water that seed and cause it to grow.
If you tend to be a loner, know that there is strength and safety in numbers. God created us to be in close fellowship with Him and others. Those with whom we fellowship can have a big impact on how we live our lives. Be sure to choose your friends wisely.
Have a great day!