Loyalty

Be as loyal to your friends as you want them to be to you.

There is a big difference between acquaintances and friends. Acquaintances are people that you know. They pop into your life (whether you want them to or not) as the result of your circumstances. So, you have acquaintances at work, in your neighborhood, and at church. These are people who may be very nice, but your relationship with them is defined more by contact than by commitment.

One of the characteristics that distinguishes acquaintances from friendship is loyalty. Friends are committed to each other. They are willing to make personal sacrifices for each other. They don’t keep score of who owes a favor to whom. If you have true friends, then thank God for them. They are rare commodities. If you need to increase your friendship network and find a few, then start by being the kind of friend you would want to have.

“The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.” John 15:13