I. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A BEST FRIEND
A. Do you have a BEST FRIEND?
B. What would you miss without your best friend?
C. Christ had BEST FRIENDS.

II. LIFE WITHOUT A BEST FRIEND
A. Lonely; "Two are better than one..." Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12. Charles
Spurgeon said, "Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many
might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a
friend."
B. A false friend is a liability.
1. Prodigal son had many "friends" while life was good.
Luke 15:11-22
2. How false friends are attracted:
-Money, Proverbs 14:20; 19:4
-Flattery, Proverbs 29:5
-List Others:
3. False friends are absent in times of trouble.
-Job's friends deserted him when he needed them most.
-Note: Job's perception of them. Job 6:14, Job 19:14, Job 19:19

III. WHAT IS A FRIEND?
A. --One who knows you.
-One who steps in when the whole world steps out.
-One who never gets in the way, except when you are on your way down.
B. One Who loves you. Proverbs 17:17, John 15:13,1 John 3:16
C. One who protects you.
-David and Jonathan; I Samuel Chapters 19-20
D. One who helps when you are in real need.
-Samaritan, Luke 10:30-37 Who was the real friend?
E. One who is loyal.

-"......all times."
-(Quote Sam Davis)
F. One who brings out the best in you. Proverbs 27:17
-Sharpening is not achieved by:
-Continuous criticism.
-Continuous agreement.
-Flattery.
-Gossip.
G. One who is interested in my spiritual well-being.
-No friend influences you away from God. Deuteronomy 13:6-11
-A friend will explain my need for God; His love and friendshi'p to me,
and how I can be a friend of God...that's our next study.

FRIENDSHIP SELF-EVALUATION;
1. What common interests do I have with my friend?
2. Would my friend be offended if he knew what I said behind his back last
week?
3. Do I listen to my friend when he comes to me with a problem?
4. When was the last time I prayed for my friend's needs?
5. Am I certain my friend is saved? Have I ever taken the time to present
God's plan of salvation to him?