Besties
Dear Auntie Agony,
How do you know if someone is a true friend?
In this world, everyone wants to “look out for number one,” meaning themselves. It’s hard to tell who is a true friend and who is a false friend. Smart girls like you start by considering a few friendship facts:
- Not all friends need to be equal friends. Some friends are really “acquaintances,” people we see from time to time, people we like but who really aren’t involved in our lives. It’s okay to have lots of acquaintances. In fact, if you try to make all of your acquaintances your friends, you soon won’t have enough time for real friends!
- Not all friends are good friends. Friends who try to control you, friends who boss you around, and friends who backstab you really aren’t friends. Sometimes we know that in our hearts, but we don’t want to face it. Don’t be afraid to leave bad friendships. God will replace them with good friendships.
- Real friends will allow you to put them first sometimes, but they will also put you first sometimes. Like a teeter-totter! Sometimes you’re up when they are down. You give them a push, and for a while, you’re balanced. Sometimes they’re up when you’re down. They’ll give you a push, and then you’re balanced for a while. Real friendships are equal friendships. They both help and allow you to help.
In the Bible, Job had many problems. His livestock and servants were stolen and burned – kind of like losing your whole business in a fire with no fire insurance. His house was destroyed. His children died. Job got very sick. He did have some friends, though. Now, his friends didn’t do and say everything right. But they were good friends. They left their own homes and businesses to be with a friend who was sad and in trouble. They focused on Job when he was down and needed them. They comforted him. They stayed with him. Sometimes they reminded Job of God’s goodness and power. When Job was down, they pushed him back up again! The Bible doesn’t tell us if Job did the same for them, but his character showed that he honored God and others. That is a true friend.
Now Job had three friends … These friends heard about the troubles that had happened to Job. So they agreed to meet and go see Job. They wanted to show him they were upset for him, too. And they wanted to comfort him.
Job 2:11