Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help.  If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New Century Version, NCV)

King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiates, and, other than Jesus, there was no one who was given more wisdom than he was. What Solomon is stressing in this passage is the importance of God-given friendships. A good friend is a treasure from the Lord and will keep us strong in our Christian walk.

It is tempting to try to isolate ourselves, because, let’s face it, we’ve all been betrayed or hurt by insincere people. However, when we seek the Lord for friends and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will find people who will be true friends. And of course, we must also be the type of friend to others that we want them to be to us. This means telling them the truth in love, not betraying their confidence, and taking time to be there for them even when it is not convenient for us.

As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp. Proverbs 27:17 (Easy To Read Version, ERV)

Friends will also help keep us sharp by challenging our assumptions and discussing ideas from a different viewpoint. Such friendly discussions help keep us balanced and free from error. Friends help us develop. All things considered, there are few things as important or as powerful as true Christian friendship.

If you have been blessed to have a true friend, including a spouse or family member, forward this post to them today and tell them how much you appreciate and value their friendship.