"A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.” (LB) “If you have one friend in life – you are lucky.” -Emerson Note: (Our number one emotional problem is .) “Men Without Friends” by David Smith of women and % of men say they have a best friend. Read - 1 Samuel 18:1-4 A Best Friend Relates . "…he (Jonathan) loved him (David) as himself…” (1 Samuel 18:1) “…because he loved him as himself.” (1 Samuel 18:3) “…because he loved him as he loved himself…” (1 Samuel 20:17) Three Types Of Friends: The relationship is just . The relationship is about things in . The relationship is one of . Read – 1 Corinthians 13:7 “If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.” (LB) Note: (A best friend will see you through when others think you are .) A Best Friend Responds . Read – 1 Samuel 19:1-2 Note: (A best friend will always take .) The Bible Puts A Premium On Friendship: • “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15) • “…love…lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) • “Abraham…called God’s friend.” (James 2:23) To Be A Best Friend We Must: when we cannot forget. when we cannot approve. when we do not want to hang out. A Best Friend Requires . Read – 1 Samuel 20:1-4 Confronting is a statement of . Avoiding is a statement of . “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Read – Proverbs 27:5-6 condemn/criticize – “I don’t like .” confront/challenge – “I don’t like what you .” CONCLUSION: A Best Friend Is A Rare . “…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)