Who is NOT a Friend?

Biblical Friendship 

- A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure. -- Ecclesiastes 6:14

The Bible speaks of several men who deceived other under the guise of friendship. This world is full of convenient friendship, and the devil is pretty good at this game. So once again, I turned to the Bible to see what it has to say about this kind of friendship.

A enemy is one who--

1. Is Selfish -- Pro 18:1 {An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.} There are many "friends" who are friendly only because they seek your favor. They can use you for their own selfish gains. 

2. Seeks wealth and gifts -- Pro 19:4- 6 {⁴ Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him. ⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free. ⁶ Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.} King Solomon would have a first-hand knowledge about this because he was the wealthiest man alive during his time, and many "friends" would have passed by his house. 

3. Gossips -- Pro 16:28 {A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.}  You should notice that it says "A" gossip. Even a small, little, tiny gossip, could go a long way to spoil a good friendship. It is important not to gossip on your friends. Also do not listen to gossip because it leads to separation of friends. 

4. Flatters -- Pro 27:6 {Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.} 

About flatterers the psalmist says Psalms 5:9 {For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.} The Bible goes straight to the point where flatterers are concerned. They are called as unfaithful and wicked.

Proverbs 29:5 says that A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

Job 17:5 says "He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail." 

So let us beware of these things and not resort to flattery, but rather speak the truth. 

5. Lovers of this world -- James 4:4 {Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God} 

So who are your friends?

Ps 119:63 says "I am the companion of all that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts."  That is who our friends should be. Our friends should be people who fear the Lord, and who keep his commandments. And as a friend, we should also fear the lord and keep his commandments. This is the basis of Biblical friendship.