Dependable Friendship ∙∙
A man with too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Psalms 25:8-15
The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.
The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
The LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.
My eyes are always on the LORD, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
The Journey of Friendship
In our youth, forming friendships often comes easily and naturally. However, as we get older, the process becomes more difficult. Life’s circumstances, such as physical distance or the passing of loved ones, can separate us from those we care about, making it harder to maintain or build meaningful connections.
What Makes a True Friend?
The qualities of a good friend are timeless and universal. Ann Landers beautifully described friendship as “love that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.”
Henri Nouwen further explores this idea, highlighting the emotional depth of true friendship: “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures [Job’s friends], have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”
A true friend not only understands our struggles but loves us not despite our pain but because of it. They offer a safe space for vulnerability, providing comfort and support without judgment or expectation.
Friendship in the Bible
In Scripture, friendship is often portrayed as a relationship built on mutual trust, loyalty, and deep connection. Harper’s Bible Dictionary describes friendship as a bond of “mutual trust and congeniality,” exemplified by the profound relationship between David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18:1: “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.”
The Bible also emphasizes the special friendship we share with the Father God. Psalms 25 describes the Father as a reliable and faithful friend. He is a steady source of guidance, comfort, and wisdom. His loving kindness and faithfulness are the foundation of this divine friendship, which He begins and maintains.
God’s loyal love (hesed) embodies the Father’s personality. It is often translated as “kindness, mercy, or lovingkindness.” It is not merely a quality; it is the driving force behind who He is and how He engages with us.
REFLECT & PRAY
The Father represents the quintessential BFF, providing insight, compassion, and direction. Rather than condemning us for our past mistakes, He exemplifies mercy and forgiveness, granting us valuable opportunities for renewal and restoration.
Father, I am amazed and overjoyed that You have chosen me to be Your friend. Help me to draw closer to You each day and to cherish the bond we share. You are truly my best friend forever.
INSIGHT
The Joy of Reunion
Many of us have experienced the excitement of reuniting with friends at an airport after a long time apart. As we eagerly wait, scanning the crowd of disembarking passengers, the moment we finally see them fills us with joy. We rush to greet them, embracing them warmly. This mutual seeking and joyful reunion reflect the essence of true friendship, a bond where both parties actively seek and cherish one another.
Zacchaeus: A Divine Appointment
The story of Zacchaeus beautifully illustrates this concept of seeking and being sought. Zacchaeus, a tax collector, climbed a sycamore fig tree in Jericho, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Lord Jesus Christ as He passed by. Though Zacchaeus sought Jesus out of curiosity, it was the Lord Who was truly seeking him. Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
In eternity past, the Father had ordained this divine appointment. On that specific day and hour, the Lord Jesus Christ came to Jericho with the purpose of bringing salvation to Zacchaeus and his household. This was not an isolated event; throughout history, the Lord has kept countless divine appointments.
These pivotal, eternally timed moments when the Father bursts into human history include experiences of salvation, miraculous healings, and resurrections, among others. Some examples are the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), the healing of the man born blind (John 9), and the raising of Lazarus (John 11). For the children of the King, their first encounter with Him, which led to their salvation, has already occurred; many more may still lie ahead.
The Transformative Encounter
Zacchaeus was a tax collector, a job that made him despised and hated by his community. Known for extortion and overcharging, he was seen as a notorious sinner. Yet, this did not deter the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 19:5: “When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said. ‘Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.’”
Zacchaeus represented the very people Jesus came to save, the lost, the outcast, and the guilty. His words to Zacchaeus were not only an invitation but also a sign of recognition and love. This simple yet powerful interaction changed Zacchaeus’s life.
Barclay captures this transformation: “Zacchaeus was wealthy, but he was not happy. Inevitably, he was lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. Despised and hated by all, Zacchaeus was reaching after the love of God.”
A Life Changed
The encounter with Jesus led Zacchaeus to renounce his sinful ways and seek reconciliation immediately. Luke 19:8-9:
“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’
Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.’”
Zacchaeus’s transformation signified a public affirmation of his repentance and newfound faith. In this remarkable moment, Jesus publicly affirmed Zacchaeus’s salvation, announcing it to all who heard. This was not merely a personal triumph for Zacchaeus; it served as a powerful testament to the redemptive power of the Lord Jesus Christ’s love.
The Nature of Salvation
The salvation that the Father offers is not based on our worthiness or merit but on His own nature and goodness. As Stanley explains, “God saves us, not because He thinks we’re smart or worthy of His Son’s work on our behalf, but because of His own nature and goodness. He saves us for His name’s sake and for His glory.”
This truth is echoed in Romans 5:7-8:
“For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The depth of God’s love is further emphasized in John 15:13-15:
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
The Great Exchange
The Father invites each of us to come to Him and exchange our old, burdensome way of life for the abundant life He offers. Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Through His love and grace, God offers us freedom from the weight of sin and the joy of a transformed life. Like Zacchaeus, we are called to respond to His invitation, embrace His love, and walk in the newness of life He provides.
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© Dr. H 2026
Dr H Reflections 