How to be a Wise Friend
“A Proverbs-Driven Life knows that friendship is intended to be redemptive.”
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24, ESV
Sam and Frodo
“Here, as the two Hobbits are leaving the Shire on their grim mission to destroy the ring, Frodo says:“ It is going to be very dangerous, Sam. It is already dangerous. Most likely neither of us will come back.” “If you don’t come back sir, then I shan’t, that’s certain,” said Sam. “‘Don’t you leave him!’ they said to me. ‘Leave him!’ I said. ‘I never mean to. I am going with him, if he climbs to the Moon, and if “any of those Black Riders try to stop him, they’ll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with,’ I said.”21Out of the boldness and depth of their friendship, Sam then accompanies Frodo on their grueling journey. Through two books of trials and dangers, Sam never wavers, continually bolstering Frodo in spirit. And at the end, as Frodo’s strength fails him, Sam literally carries Frodo on his back up the side of Mount Doom, where at last the ring can be destroyed, and Middle Earth redeemed.”
Universally treasured: Friendship
“deep friendship is universally treasured as one of the best things in life. And no wonder: The desire for it is woven into our very nature, for we are made in the image of the triune God who is himself the ideal society. We are built for the experience of deep, lasting friendship, and few things are more rewarding in this life.” “When pursued and practiced with biblical wisdom, friendship among Christians can be richly, consistently
redemptive”
“Three Marks of Redemptive Friendship”
“The book of Proverbs identifies at least three factors that are central to redemptive friendships: counsel, correction, and comfort. We will examine these three by focusing on a single proverb each. “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9, ESV
1. A friend gives earnest counsel:
“ This is selfless, sincere guidance that has the friend’s best interests at heart. Neither trite nor offered in haste, it is thoughtful, wise, godly counsel, always in keeping with Scripture, and shared after appropriate reflection and expressed with genuine concern. Such counsel is so rare and valuable that the writer compares it to perfume and incense, some of the most precious and delightful treasures of the ancient world.”
2. A Friend Gives Trustworthy Correction”
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” Proverbs 27:6, ESV “Correction is similar to counsel, for each one involves speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Yet the difference between them is an important one, and helpful to understand. As we have seen, counsel generally helps keep us from heading down the wrong path in some particular area. But correction becomes necessary when we are already on the wrong path and need to change. In other words, where typically the goal of counsel is to prevent something bad, the goal of correction is to restore something good.”
3.“A Friend Gives Consistent Comfort”
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