As a child it always seemed important to have a “best friend.” I don’t know all of the reasons, but there is in all of us a desire for closeness and connection with someone. God made us to be social and relational beings. Sin, on the other hand, perverts that in so many ways and makes us insecure, overly dependent, and selfish.

I have heard it said many times that if you can count on one hand the number of true friends you have you are a blessed person. The older I get the more my understanding of friendship has changed and the more my appreciation for true friends grows.

Spiritually, our Lord Jesus Christ is our best friend. He truly is “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). He is everything that we long to find and everything that we struggle to be. He is the Friend of sinners (Matthew 11:16-19).

But, outside of Christ, who is your best friend? You may be surprised to discover that it is not always who you think it is. It may not be your peers. It may not be those closest to you every day. Here are a few reflections to consider…

1. Your best friend is the person who led you to Jesus.
2. Your best friend is the person who prays for you.
3. Your best friend is the person who encourages you to find and follow God’s will.
4. Your best friend is the person who demonstrates by their example what it means to be a true follower of Christ.
5. Your best friend is the person who challenges you to be more like Jesus.
6. Your best friend is the person who tells you the truth.
7. Your best friend is the person who wants you to have a good day when you stand before God.

Bottom line: Your best friend is the person who strengthens you in the best areas of life and desires God’s best for your life. Identify that person and thank God for them. Then, by God’s grace, seek to be that person in someone else’s life.

It is possible to have fun with someone and enjoy their company but it not be best for you or for them. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). The person who sharpens you spiritually is the best friend you have.