You know friendship is probably one of the more underrated relationships in the modern world. Friends are critical to the wellbeing of every person in the world. In our culture of self first, what’s in it for me, protect myself at all costs, happiness seeking kind of mentality friends are often a byproduct if they don’t give us what we want or tell us what we want to hear.

I’ve been on the wrong end of this kind of friendship on more than one occasion. I’m sure most of us have to be honest. Friends, real friends, are those kind of people who we love to have fun with, laugh with, joke around with, get in trouble with, but also these real friends can and must tell us the real truth. Hearing hard things isn’t easy but when these kind of truths come from a friend they are intended for our good.

The Bible actually speaks to this in the book of proverbs. The words of a friend are faithful, yeah even those harsh words. There are other places in the Bible that contain several key learnings about friendship.

Real Friends Overlook Differences

Friends get along so well because they’re not the same. We all have differences. It’s actually kind of cool when we see the people with whom we hang out. I love how the people that I consider some of my closest friends have several things in common with me but also have some very unique differences. Those differences are what make us get along so well.

As much as I would like it if everyone in the world was exactly like me, I really don’t think that would be a great world to live in after all. Overlooking differences is what makes life great! But overlooking differences isn’t the same as overlooking gaps in someone’s character.

The story of David in the Bible shows a wonderful friendship that was formed between David and Jonathan. The were very different people. Yet those differences didn’t cause them trouble. They were able to look past those differences to care for one another, but they made sure to keep one another clear on their character.

Real Friends Protect One Another

That same story of David and Jonathan took an unexpected turn when Jonathan had to stand up to his own dad. His dad wanted to kill David because he felt threatened by him. Protection was key to keeping this friendship alive. But protecting a friend isn’t only about saving them from your angry dad, it can look like a hard conversation or loving intervention. Protecting our friends can look like providing for them in a time of need or being there when they’re going through a hard time.

Protecting one another isn’t just about life and death but about relationally, emotionally and socially being present for the people about whom we care.

Real Friends Carry Blessings Forward

The ending of the story of David and Jonathan isn’t one of those happily ever after kind of endings. Jonathan and his father both died. Jonathan orphaned a son who was crippled due to an injury and left in the care of his nurse. But the friendship forged between Jonathan and David was one that stood the test of time. David made sure to protect and provide for the needs of Jonathan’s son in the years to come.

We need to be willing to do the same. Maybe this isn’t about looking out for the orphan of our best friend but when we’re close to someone in this kind of soul connecting way we care about them and their family.

If you’ve been blessed with this type of real, good, and godly kind of friendship, then you’re truly blessed. Cherish this kind of friendship. Let them know how much they mean to you. Don’t take these amazing kind of friendships for granted.