What qualities define a true friend according to Proverbs 18:24? “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The Built-In Contrast • “Many companions” – plenty of surface-level connections, yet no lasting security • “A friend who sticks closer than a brother” – a single, steadfast ally whose loyalty outshines even family bonds Core Qualities of a True Friend • Steadfast loyalty – remains “closer than a brother,” undeterred by hardship or distance • Reliability in crisis – present when ruin threatens, not merely in easy seasons • Unconditional commitment – chooses to stay, not because of obligation or advantage, but out of genuine love • Protective support – guards the other from “ruin,” stepping in when danger, loss, or failure looms • Deep, covenant-like bond – intimacy stronger than blood ties, forged through faithfulness over time Echoes Throughout Scripture • Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (constant love) • 1 Samuel 18:1–4 – Jonathan’s covenant with David (loyalty that risks position and life) • Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 – “If either falls down, one can help the other up.” (practical support) • John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (sacrificial devotion) Living Out These Traits Today • Show up when inconvenience knocks; presence outweighs platitudes • Speak truth gently but firmly, guarding a friend from destructive choices • Keep confidences; trust withers when secrets leak • Celebrate victories without envy, mourn losses without distance • Pray and labor for a friend’s spiritual good, mirroring Christ’s self-giving love |