Have you ever asked yourself “what is it like for someone to be my friend?” It’s the most important thing you need to ask yourself if you want to have real friends.
Would they say, “It’s wonderful to be this person’s friend or I don’t consider this person much of a friend?”
I asked a man this question and his reply was, “I don’t think I have any people in my life that think I am their friend.” He said he was too busy with his job and family and all the problems in his own life to really be a friend to someone else.
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend is there to help, in any situation, and relatives are born to share our troubles.” This simply means that a real friend loves and cares for another person at all times, good or bad.
Friends love their family and others when they prosper and when they don’t. Everyone will face difficult and unpleasant times in their life and will need our help and encouragement to get them through it.
The Bible says in Proverbs 18:24, “Some friends don’t help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.” Think about that. A true friend is closer than your own family.
You cannot expect to have real friends if you are unconcerned about people you call a friend. Friends do stuff for friends. They care. They share. If you have it, they have it, if they need it. You hurt when they hurt and rejoice when they rejoice.
James 2:12 says, “You shouldn’t just say, “I hope everything goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help?”
Stop pretending you care about someone you call a friend if you are unwilling to show it in a real and meaningful way. Ask yourself, “What is it like for (name) to be my friend?” Do they know I really care for them? Do I love them and show it or do I think I am their friend because I’ve known them for a long time?
If you have no time for your friends or willingness to share and give to them from the things God has blessed you with, you are lying to yourself by calling yourself their friend. Like countless others that pass through their lives daily, you are just someone they know and nothing more.