Constant Friend

"A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs 17:17

True friends give unconditional love. This is how Christ loves us, and He is our model for friendship. We most reflect His love when we remain a constant friend. I am reminded of Job's "friends", who were judgmental and failed to show compassion to him at the lowest point of his life. Surely it must grieve the Lord when His children fail to sympathize with a friend in despair. "Compassion is a debt owing to those that are in affliction. The least which those that are at ease can do for those that are pained and in anguish is to pity them,--to manifest the sincerity of a tender concern for them, and to sympathize with them,--to take cognizance of their case, enquire into their grievances, hear their complaints, and mingle their tears with theirs,--to comfort them, and to do all they can to help and relieve them: this well becomes the members of the same body, who should feel for the grievances of their fellow-members, not knowing how soon the same may be their own." (Matthew Henry)