Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Proverbs 27:5-6, 9-10

5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.


Today’s title is “The True Friendship”

Our happiness greatly depends on a healthy relationship with other people. Friendship brings joy and happiness like perfume and incense. Life without good friends can be dull and tasteless. Friends provide help and support in times of need. It is true that a friend in need is a friend indeed. Friends, more than anything else can open hearts to one another. They even share things that are not easy to share with family members. To have such a friend is a blessing. It is a gift of God. You should thank God for it and treasure it. But true friendship cannot be formed by superficial niceties toward another. True friendship comes from pure love based on mutual trust and sacrifice. In the Old Testament, we see a good example of true friendship between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. Jonathan willingly abdicates his right to succeed his father King Saul knowing that God has chosen David. On the other hand, David kept his faithfulness toward Jonathan. David caringly took care of Jonathan’s family even after Jonathan died. But we see the epitome of the good friendship in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus lowered Himself from the highest throne to the lowly place to become the true friend to wretched sinners like us. He said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Jesus not only has made known to us everything that He learned from His Father but also He Himself died for us to prove His true friendship to us. I personally have some good friends. But I must confess that to me no friendship is like the friendship with Lord Jesus. I can literally level everything of my life with Him. Jesus knows every ups and down of my life. He shares my joy and sorrow like no other. He rebukes me when I go awry. But He still accepts me as I am. He helps and comforts me like no other. I can truly sing "What a friend we have in Jesus! " with all my heart. I pray that you all have a friendship like this because I know how precious it is to have such a friend. Such a friend is surely the most precious gift to our life. The good news is that Jesus wants to be your friend with an open arm and an open heart. That was why He came down here leaving the highest throne. He is just waiting for you to open your hearts and accept the greatest offer of friendship. Are you ready to do it? Let the greatest friendship of your life begin now. Amen!