Here we have a truth that brings exhortation and conviction to our hearts if we contemplate it very long. What does it mean to be a friend? A friend loves at all times. Let me say it another way; a friend puts a strong effort into practicing patience, kindness, humility, and selflessness (see 1 Cor.13 for the detailed description). Taking the description a step further, Solomon tells us that a friend is born for adversity. When you find yourself in a difficult situation, a true friend doesn’t avoid you, but pursues you, in order to provide comfort and encouragement. At this point you may be thinking -“I wish I had more friends like that.” I would encourage you, that God has not given us this verse in order to expose the short comings in those we consider friends. Rather, God is calling on you to grow in this area toward others. This is a description of a selfless attitude, not one that sits in isolation wondering why people aren’t reaching out to them. This is the “friend” attitude we see in Jesus toward us; may we exercise the same attitude toward others.