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How can you tell if someone is a good friend? You know that he's always there for you, and that he loves you—no matter what. Maybe he stayed up all night to type your term paper on the computer when you got sick. Or he listened and empathized when your date stood you up. Perhaps he's the one who drove you home after you got your wisdom teeth pulled. Or he's the one who rushed you to the hospital when you were going into labor and your husband was out of town on business. He's the one who prays with you, gives you gentle advice when you ask for it, and points out kindly when you're wrong.

Now that's a friend to be trusted—the kind of loving friend that the apostle Paul talks about in these verses.

If you want to health-test your relationship with a friend, try reading verses 4-8 aloud, inserting your friend's name in place of each mention of the word love. Is this true about your friend? Is his or her concept of friendship at least similar to what's in this passage? Then try inserting your own name. How do you measure up in your practice of friendship love toward him or her? Where do you need to improve? In what areas are you doing well?

If you want to have godly, healthy friendships, memorize these words. They'll help you—and your friends—become better friends! (See also Ruth 1-4; Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; Proverbs 27: 17-19; James 5:13-20.)

Good Words to Remember:
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Today's Challenge:
Think through your friendships. Are they healthy and godly?

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

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