September 26, 2014 (Friday)
What is a “friend?” A dictionary gives 6 definitions of “friend” when used as a noun: 1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. 2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony. 3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe? 4. a member of the same nation, party, etc. 5. (initial capital letter) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker. 6. a person associated with another as a contact on a social-networking website: We’ve never met, but we’re Facebook friends.
When asked to define “friend,” we would probably be able to come 
up with some ideas of our own. Quick. Without thinking about it, what is a friend? I took this test myself, just now, and the first thing that popped into my mind was, “someone you can depend on.” What came to your mind?
I believe that Carol King wrote one of the best songs ever when she wrote, “You’ve Got A Friend.” The chorus goes like this: “You just call out my name and you know wherever I am, I’ll come running to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you got to do is call and I’ll be there, Yes I will. You’ve got a friend.” She put the words of her song into practice when she gave the song, no strings attached, to her friend, James Taylor, for it to become one of his greatest hits ever. Later, she recorded it herself, and her recording reached the top of the charts, too.
The Book of Proverbs says, “..a real friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NLT).
The Apostle Paul pointed out to us that “..we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (Romans 5:11 NLT).
Jesus reminded us that our friendship with him needs to pass a test: “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14 NLT). Jesus is always our friend; are we always his?
Loosely quoting Emerson: “To have a friend, be a friend.”
If I would have more friends, then I must be a friend to more people, and I have many oportunities to do that daily.