Friendship

Just had a small tiff with a colleague on the subject of having more friends, she complains that I am too rigid on my definition of acquaintance & friend.  Her stand is that she does not need to spend too much time with a good friend; therefore making more friends is fine.

Actually, is there a difference between friends, good friends, best friends, acquaintances or business associates?  There are many proverbs, Chinese sayings about friendship and some emphasis or have added a word in front.  “One does not need a lot of friends but if you have a REAL or TRUE friend, one should treasure it and be very happy”.  Why the word “real or true”?  Many people make friends so that they can get business contacts, go party together, etc.  If you are in trouble and need help which may be take too much an effort, these acquaintances will not likely to be there for you.

There are few questions one should ask:

Is this person just someone that I can go party with?

If I go bankrupt and have no place to go, will this person still be with me?

When I am down, will he/she take the effort to console me?

Will this person guide me when I am on the wrong track?

True friendship takes effort, and effort takes time.  Friendship needs to be nurture.  This does not mean that if we managed to have some true friends, we drop the rest.  Unfortunately, we live in a world that needs people to move things.  Acquaintances are a great help in many areas, furthermore, they may share some common interest that you will find fun & laughter.

Recently, there is this magazine produced by Eagles Communications on friendship and the friendship with GOD which gives me another dimension on friendship.  “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity” Pro 17:17 (ASV).