Day 108 - Fake Friends
Emily Green
“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” - Proverbs 18:24 NLT
I love how the New Living Translation includes “friends” in quotation marks in this verse. I read it with a little bit of sass: “There are so-called ‘friends’ who actually aren’t even friends at all.”
Unfortunately, a lot of us probably know what it’s like to have a fake friend. Another term that could be used here is “frenemy.” Fake friends are people who pretend to like each other, only to turn around and hurt one another. We see this in real life, movies, and even the media. Two celebrities who are releasing a movie together travel, do press events, and pretend to be cordial, only for us to later find out that they can’t stand each other in real life!
I don’t think “fake” friends need any more explanation, so let’s turn our attention to a real friend. What I love about Proverbs 18:24 is that King Solomon, the author of Proverbs and the wisest man to ever live, tells us what makes a friend fake and what makes a friend real. Fake friends help us go down the path of destruction, but real friends are loyal; they hold us accountable and try to keep us from making harmful mistakes. Real friends “stick closer than a brother,” meaning they are as close as blood. They protect us and stand with us until the end.
If you have some “fake friends” in your life, I encourage you today to ask God to send you real friends. Having authentic, life-giving friendships is possible through godly community!
Next Steps
- Think about it: Have I ever had a “fake” friend? How did I know he/she was fake?
Think about it: Have I ever had a “real” friend? How did I know he/she was authentic?
Action Step: Pray and ask God to send you real friendships. One place to pursue these authentic friendships is through Clicks, the small groups at DL! You can register for a group at www.dl.church/clicks!