Counsel

Proverbs 27:9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

10 Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, 
you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.

It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. 
(New Living Translation)

It is important to have friends that are able to speak wise counsel into your life's situations. There are some things that we go through in life that are easier to bare with the familiarity of a friend. Not a stranger or loose associate, but a friend that knows you and has observed your failures and your triumphs. Their godly character and counsel will bring clarity and light to the darkness that we face.

But the scripture also says that you should also be a friend to others and never abandon them. In doing so, you have the added benefit of never needing to ask in the time of calamity. And yes, for all of us there will be a time of calamity and disaster. Whether it be a loss of a loved one, financial disaster or long term illness, there will be times of emotional distress that will require someone to be there for us. How do we ensure that someone will be there for us? By ensuring that we are there for someone else.

In the time of sudden disaster, because you were a friend to your neighbor, they will be more readily available to you than perhaps a family member that is out of the area. I think we can all agree with scripture that this is better.

So lets make sure we are a friend to someone. Even more, in the words of Paul:

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.