A Friend Who Sticks Closer Than A Brother

I hope all of you have someone you can call a true friend…a friend with a mature Christian walk.

Solomon, the second wisest man to walk the planet, wrote: “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”. I have lots of friends in the sense of people with whom I hang out or with whom I am on friendly terms. But, I can honestly count my true friends - the people who are allowed into the inner-regions of my soul - on one hand (besides my wife, who comes first). And through life’s journey, I have realized how absolutely critical it is to be choosy - to have a close bond with people who will always have your back, but will always speak the truth to you; who will encourage virtues like grace, courage, integrity and yet someone you can be yourself around, even if it is not the “yourself” you would present to just anybody.

Being “rooted in community” is not simply a by-line in our philosophy of ministry. It is wisdom endorsed by God’s Word that takes place at the most rudimentary level of true friendship. It is a channel of life and strength!