The biblical book of Proverbs has a lot to say about friendship. Here’s another:

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

Let’s flush out the meaning. True friends are there for you at all times, including the ups and downs. This is a warning against fair-weathered friendship. Friends who only show up when there’s a party happening aren’t truly friends. 

Do you have those kinds of friends? Are YOU that kind of friend?

The second half of the proverb builds on the same theme. A part of the purpose of having “a brother”—i.e. someone who is family, or who isn’t biologically related to you but is still as close as family—is to help you through adversity.

The principle is this. Friends help friends no matter what is happening.

Helen Keller is well-known as an inspirational person. She lost both her sight and her hearing, and she advocated for those struggling with various disabilities. Speaking about the importance of friendship, she said: “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.”

In other words, friendship is so important that it is better to go through hardship with a trusted friend than it is for things to be fine, but to be alone.

God uses your friendship to help others, and he uses their friendship to help you.

What kind of a friend are you?

None of us are perfect. But we can always take steps in the right direction.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

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Notes:

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.