In Proverbs 18 verse 24 we read, A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Dear congregation, there in those words we are shown the way in which a friendship may be gained and further cultivated. A man that have friends must show himself friendly. One who has an unfriendly spirit cannot really expect to have friends. However, friendship may be gained by a man being friendly. And we must be friendly to others in the church and in the community. We must show that we are of a friendly disposition. Though we're not perfect, we are to show it, and we are to seek to be a good friend. A man that have friends must show himself friendly. That's what the Lord exhorts us here in those words in Proverbs 18, verse 24. Well, having stated this, Solomon, then under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes, there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. And we are presented with a close friend, One who stays near, one who is closer than the ties of flesh, here is our precious friend. the Lord Jesus Christ, and many in the past have been led to consider Christ there in those words. He is the great friend that's taken closer than a brother. He is the best of friends to have, and we who know him, we have proved it again and again, and we have learned through experience what a friend we have in the Lord, our beloved friend. Now here in Proverbs 27 and in other passages we are given teaching on the subject of friendship and of being a friend. Well tonight we come to conclude this series on marriage, family and friends by looking at the subject of friends. And as we come to this subject tonight I'd like us to consider two things. First of all our good friends and then secondly our great friends. Firstly our good friends and then secondly our great friend. Well let's consider first of all our good friends. Come with me to verse 6 of this chapter. Proverbs 27 and verse 6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Faithful are the wounds of a friend Faithful words spoken by way of reproof from a good and faithful friend. Faithful words from a faithful friend. Now we go on to read there in those words, these words, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. And are we not led to think of Judas, who showed himself to be no true friend of our Lord? In Matthew 26 verse 48 we read, Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he. Hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master, and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. What a man Judas was! though he had outwardly in the past given the impression to others of being a true friend, he was not a genuine friend, he was a pretended friend. We can also think of that one mentioned in the parable of the marriage of the king's He was a pretended friend. And we think of all those that he represents. Matthew 22, verse 11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. He was speechless. What could he say? His hypocrisy had been found out. He was a pretended friend. and it's a solemn thought. There are many who are pretended friends. In contrast, here in our text, we consider a faithful, a good, and a true friend. Faithful words from a good and faithful friend. But it's good for a man to have friends. We read earlier in Proverbs 18, verse 24, a man that have friends must show himself Friendly, it's a good thing to have friends. Now we know that there are some in this world, through no fault of their own, that they are found on their own. Or that they would have many a friend, if they were without Christ, or that they would yet know the friend that's thicker, closer than a brother. But let's think of our friends, our good friends. our true friends. And as we do so tonight, we're led particularly to consider other believers. for they are our best of friends under Christ. The Reverend John Brown Huntington, speaking of a friend, wrote, one who heartily and in a fixed manner loves us and is ready to exert himself for our good, one that sympathises with us in our trouble, and one with whom we may safely trust. a good friend. Well as we think of our good friends tonight I'd like us now to look at four particular things. First of all, a loving friendship or a loving friend. Secondly, a faithful friend. Thirdly, a loyal friend. And fourthly, a sympathising friend. A loving friend, a faithful friend, a loyal friend, a sympathising friend. There's many other things we can glean from scripture as we look at this subject of a friend, of a good friend, but I'd like us just to focus on these four things tonight. Firstly, a loving friend. And so we read in Proverbs 17, verse 17. Proverbs 17, verse 17. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Love, like a river, continues to flow. It may be tested. And it may even slow a little, as rivers do, but it will continue to flow. A friend loveth at all times. Yes, at times there may be little exercise of love, but that grace of love in the heart of the believer is there. And a true friend, a fellow believer, loveth at all times. Except for the Lord, there is no perfect friend. And so other friends may disappoint. Fellow Christians may disappoint you. But still love will flow. And it will flow in days of blessing as in days of adversity. A friend loveth at all times. Charles Bridge, speaking of the loving friend, wrote, he does not change when circumstances change. He is the same whether we are in wealth or need. He proves himself in adversity. Love continues to flow. A friend loveth at all times. They may be tested. They may even be provoked by a friend. but that friend will continue to love. A friend loveth at all times, and it will be evident. Remember that godly and true love of David and Jonathan. In 1 Samuel 18 verse 1 we read, And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. It was evident. Remember the love of the Lord Jesus Christ towards Lazarus. In John 11 verse 11 we read, These things said he, and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep. You see how the Lord there addressed Lazarus as a friend, our friend. And what do we read later? Jesus wept. And the Jews that beheld him said, behold how he loved him. It was evident. There were tears of love towards Lazarus. Yes, there were tears of love towards Mary. And there were tears of grief for those unbelieving Jews. But all consider the evidence of the love Christ had towards Lazarus. There were tears of love. Behold how he loved him. A true friend will give evidence of their love. There may be tears of love, acts of love, words of love. Love will be evident. A true friend loves continually. Dear brethren, we are friends. and there is love in our hearts. 1 John 3 verse 14, we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. The Lord makes it abundantly plain there. Those who do not love abide in death. But we know that we have passed from death unto life. Why? Because we love the brethren. There is that grace of love within the heart. There may be natural love. There's love between ungodly men and women. There's love in ungodly homes, a natural love. Sadly, there is a sinful love. The love of money is the root of all evil, but what we're thinking of there is that grace of love, that grace of love put within by the Holy Spirit in the time of effectual calling. that grace of love which bears evidence in the brethren loving one another. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. And you see, the activity of love within the soul can be an aid to assurance. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. At times one may find others difficult, but oh, there's love in the heart. And yes, I love my brother, I love my sister, therefore I love the Lord. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren, the brethren, Christian friends, a friend loveth at all times. And as we think of a loving friend or a loving friendship, we're given much help in those familiar words in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. 1 Corinthians chapter 13. We'll read from verse 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become a sounding brass, or a twinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, It profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind. Charity envieth not. Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the true. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, charity never faileth. See how we're helped there? through those words of the apostle under the inspiration of the Spirit, as we consider friendship. And did you notice how it ended? Charity never faileth. And what do we read in Proverbs 17, verse 17? A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. So firstly, a loving friend. And cherish your loving friend. Secondly, a faithful friend. A faithful friend. Come with me to verse six of Proverbs 27. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. We're presented with a faithful and good friend who gives faithful, friendly reproofs. We thought of a loving friend. Well, a loving friend will out of love for the glory of God and for the good of their friend give a faithful and friendly rebuke. For God's glory, first of all, but then for the good of their friend. And it's an evidence that they're a faithful friend. In Luke 17 verse 3, take heed to yourselves, if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him. See the faithful friend coming alongside one-to-one and giving a friendly rebuke. A faithful friend. Now as we think further of a faithful friend, they can be trusted. They can be trusted further with certain secrets. The Reverend John Brown of Haddington brings this out as he describes a friend. One can confide in them. One can share a secret with them. One can trust them. They will not go around as a tell-bearer. No, they are a faithful friend. Proverbs 11 verse 13, a tell-bearer of revealing of secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. He's of a faithful spirit, he's a faithful friend, he conceals. A faithful friend can be trusted with a secret. A faithful spirit, then, is a faithful friend. In adversity, A faithful friend is like a brother or sister. A friend loveth of all times, and a brother is born for adversity. There's the love of the friend, and we can think further of the faithful friend. They act in that brotherly way. They come alongside in difficulty. And it's good to have a faithful friend. A friend you can trust. A friend you can trust because you know they have your good in their heart. They're concerned about you. A faithful friend, one you can share with, one you can talk over things with. A faithful friend that does you good, encourages you to exercise the graces, Proverbs 27 verse 17 over the page iron sharpeneth iron so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend you see a good friend doing the other good encouraging them through the good conversation one is sharpened their minds are sharpened they're led to consider the word more and they're stirred up to exercise the graces there's this sharpening Good effect, not wearing one down, but that sharpening effect. And so one is stirred up and the graces are excited through the assistance of the Holy Spirit. A faithful friend seeking the good of others. Thirdly tonight, a loyal friend. a loyal friend. Proverbs 18, verse 24. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Now, in a moment, as we draw to a close, we'll consider Christ. We particularly consider the Lord there. Remember, he made it plain after his resurrection. In all the scriptures, there are those things concerning him. We can go to Proverbs 8 and consider him who is the wisdom of God. We can go to Proverbs 18, verse 24, and consider him as the great and close friend. But before we go on to consider that tonight, let's think of a faithful friend. They're a loyal friend. There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Closer than a brother, you think of these words, that sticketh closer. Speaks of a daring. pleading, they're close, they're loyal, they will not forsake, they will not turn their back on you. Jonathan and David were loyal friends. When David was in adversity, Jonathan was there for him. And when in providence they had to go their separate ways, they did not forget each other. Proverbs 27, verse 10. Thine own friend and my Father's friend, forsake not. And one is encouraged to be loyal. And we're to be loyal one to another. Yes, at times in love there will be a rebuke, but we're to be loyal. Thine own friend and my Father's friend, forsake not. Ever seek to be a good friend and a loyal friend. Ruth 1, verse 16 and verse 17, remember those words of Ruth towards Naomi, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for whether thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death. Part thee and me. You see Ruth's loyalty? It was her new friend. Yes, it was her mother-in-law, but it was now her new friend. She'd been brought to faith, and she was a loyal friend. Remember Elijah and Elisha? 2 Kings 2 verse 1, And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal, And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. Elisha wouldn't leave Elijah. He was a loyal friend, and that loyalty was seen till Elijah departed. A good friend will be a loyal friend. And then as we think of Brecon, we're Christian friends, we're to cleave to one another, we're to be concerned ever for each other. Fourthly, a sympathising friend, a sympathising friend. Jonathan and David had great sympathy for each other. And after knowing that David must leave because of the murderous intention of Saul, they wept together. In 1 Samuel 20, verse 41, we read, And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of the place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. And they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David acceded. You see that sympathy, that sharing, that weeping together? Verse 42, and Jonathan said to David, go in peace. For as much as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, the Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed forever. And he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. You see, they were good friends, and they had that sympathy toward one another. Jonathan so sympathized with David, Remember what Job said in Job 30 verse 25. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor? Job was a good friend to others. He sympathized. He wept for them in trouble. He was grieved for the poor. He had a concern. And over into the New Testament, Romans 12 verse 15, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. This weeping, this sympathizing, this pity shown. A good friend will sympathize. They will be touched through what their friend is going through. There's sympathy, there's pity, there's a heart of love and there's a heart of compassion and that compassion flows out of the heart and is evident. Maybe a sympathising tear. Remember what one of old wrote, blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear, and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. You see the heart there? Thinking of another. There's the sympathy, the sympathizing tear. How do we often think of each other? Do we allow bitter thoughts to arise up in our hearts? The Lord forgive us. All for sympathy, all for mercy, for pity to be found so swelling up in the soul and evident in our lives. What a blessing to have a sympathizing friend. A sympathizing friend, a loyal friend, a faithful friend, a loving friend. but much more could be said, much more could be gleaned from the Scriptures. But just as we draw this point to a close, as we are Christ's friends, let us strive to exercise much love, be greatly concerned about unity, and talk often of the Lord with our friends. Now what do friends do? They talk together. You know I say this carefully because I'm not perfect. Our conversations should be so taken up with Christ because we are friends with him. We should be talking about Christ more than our homes. We should be talking about Christ more than our families. We should be talking about Christ more than our employment. For we read in Malachi 3 verse 16, then they that feared the Lord spake often, one to another. Now these other things are good to talk about, and it's a blessing, isn't it? But, oh, what a blessing to chiefly talk about Christ and heavenly things. Set your affections on things above. Oh, dear brethren, we need to keep taking our eyes away from the world and setting our affections on things above. As friends, as Christ's friends, oh, let's be talking much about our beloved friend. In the Song of Solomon, 5, verse 16, this is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. This is my beloved, my beloved friend. I will talk of him. Let others know he is our beloved and best of friends. Dear brethren, can I say this lovingly? This coming Lord's Day, Let's seek to speak more of Christ than other things because we're friends of him and we belong together. Oh, to speak of him. And as we live in this world to be going forth saying, this is my beloved and this is my friend. You may have a close friend and so you talk of them. Therefore, we should be talking much of Christ, shouldn't we? and we need to question ourselves, why do I not talk as I ought to be talking of my best and most beloved friend? This is my beloved and this is my friend, oh, daughters of Jerusalem. Oh, to know him more, that we might be stirred up more and that we might talk more. Oh, the coldness can come in so quickly and our minds can be dulled and we can be so little taken up with Christ. Oh, to speak more of him. Well, as we close tonight, let's consider, secondly, our great friend. We thought of our good friends. Let's consider now our great friend. Proverbs 18, verse 24. A man that have friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that's to give closer than a brother. Now Solomon here is giving this direction. whereby one may be able to gain friends and cultivate friendship, but then he's so taken up with the great friend, as we think of friends, or that we'd be taken up then more with the great friend. And you have good friends who often point you to your great friend. If they lead you to worldly Your best of friends under Christ will be those who point you to your best friend, the Lord Jesus Christ. But here's Solomon, he's so taken up here. He's taken up there as a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He desires that a man might have friends, but they might know the great friend. And he rejoices in him. Oh, what a friend the Lord Jesus Christ is to us. At this very moment, he's thinking of us. He's appearing in heaven for us, we read. He's thinking of us. He's looking on us now. And he looks into our souls. And he looks on with such eyes of favour, love and mercy. What a privilege, dear brethren, to be able to say of him, this is my beloved and this is my friend. So many in this world cannot say that. And except for the grace of God, we could never say that. But oh, what a privilege, this is my beloved, and this is my friend. As you think of Christ, what a privilege to say he is my beloved, he belongs to me, and he's my friend. On my wall just above the desk, I have these words, your best and closest friend. And often when I'm working away at the sermon, or some of her work, I just look up. Your best and closest friend is the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, what a friend he is. We have good friends, but Christ is the best friend. It's that order, isn't it? Christ is the chief friend, the best friend a man could have. Just think of him. He is the loving friend, Proverbs 17, verse 17. A friend, lover at all times. His love is so constant, it is so great, it does not fade. We thought earlier of friendship between others, and sometimes love can be slowed, and there can be little exercise of love, but when we consider Christ, such a flow of love comes our way, and it is constant, and it is so great. A friend love at all times, He's loving you now, and his love does not fluctuate. Yes, there are times he's grieved. He looks down and he's grieved, but his love does not fluctuate. A friend loveth at all times. His love ever flows towards you. We fell him, but his love does not change. What love? Remember earlier those Jews as they beheld Christ, behold how he loved him, how he loved him. They bore evidence of the love of Christ. Oh, if we could look into heaven and bear evidence of the love of Christ, what a sight it would be. But all were revealed much concerning the love of Christ in the word. Behold how he loved him. What a friend do you have who so loves you at this very moment. And he's always loved you. He has loved you with an everlasting love, and he will always love you to all eternity. Behold how he loved him. When you see your friend, you'll be amazed at his love that's coming out to you from his eyes. Oh, what love he has. Consider he is the faithful and loyal friend. There is a friend that's thicker, closer than a brother. He never leaves, he never forsakes, he stays near. Hebrews 13 verse 5, let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He will never leave thee. He keeps his word. He will not break his promise. He will not forsake. Other friends may forsake. They may prove to you that they were pretended friends, but Christ will never forsake. Even when you felt him, even when you're at a distance from one angle from him, he will never forsake. He stays near. Jesus is there for his people to help them and support them. He's there for you. Son of Solomon, his left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me. The support is there, that loving support, he is the supporting friend. He stretches out his hand in the storm when our faith is small. He comes, he helps us, he's the sympathizing friend. Hebrews 4 verse 15, for we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. but was in all points tempted like as we, yet without sin. He's touch. Others may get to hear of your situation and be moved. Christ was moved a long time earlier. He's touched, he's moved. What a lovely thought that is. He's touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He's a friend that listens. Psalm 34 verse 15, the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry. He watches, he knows everything about the situation you are in, more than anyone else. We therefore can so trust him. And we can so unbosom our souls to him. We can so tell him our secrets. He so watches. He so understands. He listens. Go to Him, for He is your listening friend. He is there for you. He cares for you. Ask Him to help you. when the Lord wrote, I need thee precious Jesus, I need a friend like thee, a friend to soothe and pity, a friend to care for me. I need the heart of Jesus to fill each anxious care, to tell my every trial and all my sorrows. What a friend we have. We don't really grasp what a friend we have in Jesus. And all the times We put him to one side, as we say in the Song of Solomon. I put off my coat. How can I put it on? Oh, to grasp more what a friend we have. He is that sympathising friend, that loyal friend. Dear Brethren, take comfort. He will never leave. He knows everything about you. You may have a close friend here upon earth, but they don't know everything about you. And I expect you, like me, are glad. But Christ knows everything. But he's not going to desert you. What a friend he is. In the darkness of affliction, he will be there to hold your hand and guide you through. He will bring you on. He will bring you home. And then your friend will be there to welcome you in. he will not leave you at the end, and he will not leave you at the entrance, and he will not leave you in eternity, forever with the Lord. What fellowship we shall enjoy with our best of friends in glory to come. In view of that and in view of him, do you not desire to be more acquainted with him? before you go to bed tonight and before the coming Lord's Day. Seek to be more in acquaintance with the greatest friend a man could have, the friend you have. Seek to know him more. Seek to grow in grace and in the knowledge of him. Seek to be better acquainted with him till you feast with him in heaven above. and how blessed we are that our great friend gave his life for us, and he calls us friends. As he looks down on you, is he looking on a friend? What a blessing to look up to heaven with the eye of faith and say, this is my beloved, this is my friend. As we think of Christ, the great friend, oh, to follow his example, for that will make us a better friend, two of us. Amen.