Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
The first phrase in this passage sets up the second phrase. The first summarizes the principle of friendship, the second phrase points to our Lord, who is the best “friend” of all. The most basic principle of friendship is that if you are going to have “friends” then we “must shew” ourselves “friendly”. True friendliness means that “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour” (Romans 13:10) and that we “eschew evil, and do good; … seek peace, and ensue it” (I Peter 3:11). It takes no strength at all to be harsh, unkind, and selfish; but, real Spiritual Strength is shown when we overcome our human nature and remain “friendly”, even in troubled times. In times of distress, fear, confusion, etc., our human nature sometimes leaks out and we don’t seem so friendly; but, real friends look over each other and do good things to help each other in stressful times and seeks ways to and works very hard to ensure peaceful friendships. Our Lord plainly told us that He is our example of friendliness when He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34; 15:12). Thus, the criterion for friendship is to, as much as we are humanly capable, “love one another” in the manner and to the degree that our Lord loves us. That is, we must rush to each other’s aid, do and say kind and encouraging things to each other, summarily look over and forgive each other, and to prefer each other before ourselves. Let us remember that “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)!