All of us have someone who we consider our "best friend." Such a one fills a vital role in our lives because it is with such a one we can talk about the most intimate of secrets, having trust and confidence that they will never betray us. As parents, one of our most important duties is to teach our children how to judge character when they pick their friends. They must learn that the criteria for choosing friends runs much deeper than others' popularity, or how generous some may seem to them. Our children may be naïve, but we know the dangerous consequences if they pick the wrong friends (1 Cor. 15:33).

A quick look at the Scripture reveals some inspired statements about friends and friendship that we would do well to heed if we strive at all to please God.

The Lord wants us to love each other. As an illustration of His demands, He points out what He is about to do: die for us. He demonstrated His love for His "friends" by sacrificing Himself. "No greater love" exists in all the human race. Let no man ever say Jesus Christ was not a "friend" to humanity.

On the heels of demonstrating His friendship to us, Jesus calls upon us to prove our friendship to Him (v. 14). In reality, we must do what He did for us. He gave Himself for us; we must give ourselves up totally for Him. Our sacrifice will not result in physical death like His, but we sacrifice ourselves by totally yielding our will to His in obeying all He commands (cp. Mt. 16:24). As "friends" of Jesus, He has shared with us important truths (v. 15). While we will always be His servants, such a sharing elevates us to the status of "friends."

We are always in a constant battle with the love of God and the draw of the world and its pleasurable temptations. Many of us try to have the "best of both worlds." Such is foolish (cp. Mt. 6:24). Choosing the world as "friend" will automatically make one an "enemy" with God. Is that how you want to be known? Consider what the world will do to you, what Jesus has done for you...then choose your "friend."